Flexible Materials for Flexible Containers

ABSTRACT

A flexible material for a flexible container can include a first laminate and a second laminate joined to at least a portion of the first laminate by at least one seal. The first laminate can include a first gas barrier layer disposed between first and second sealable layers, wherein the first and second sealable layers define opposed exterior layers of the first laminate. The second laminate can include a third sealable layer defining an exterior layer of the second laminate, and a second gas barrier layer. The at least one seal joins a portion of the third sealable layer to at least a portion of the second sealable layer.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates in general to containers, and inparticular, to containers made from flexible material.

BACKGROUND

Fluent products include liquid products and/or pourable solid products.In various embodiments, a container can be used to receive, contain, anddispense one or more fluent products. And, in various embodiments, acontainer can be used to receive, contain, and/or dispense individualarticles or separately packaged portions of a product. A container caninclude one or more product volumes. A product volume can be configuredto be filled with one or more fluent products. A container receives afluent product when its product volume is filled. Once filled to adesired volume, a container can be configured to contain the fluentproduct in its product volume, until the fluent product is dispensed. Acontainer contains a fluent product by providing a barrier around thefluent product. The barrier prevents the fluent product from escapingthe product volume. The barrier can also protect the fluent product fromthe environment outside of the container. A filled product volume istypically closed off by a cap or a seal. A container can be configuredto dispense one or more fluent products contained in its productvolume(s). Once dispensed, an end user can consume, apply, or otherwiseuse the fluent product(s), as appropriate. In various embodiments, acontainer may be configured to be refilled and reused or a container maybe configured to be disposed of after a single fill or even after asingle use. A container should be configured with sufficient structuralintegrity, such that it can receive, contain, and dispense its fluentproduct(s), as intended, without failure.

A container for fluent product(s) can be handled, displayed for sale,and put into use. A container can be handled in many different ways asit is made, filled, decorated, packaged, shipped, and unpacked. Acontainer can experience a wide range of external forces andenvironmental conditions as it is handled by machines and people, movedby equipment and vehicles, and contacted by other containers and variouspackaging materials. A container for fluent product(s) should beconfigured with sufficient structural integrity, such that it can behandled in any of these ways, or in any other way known in the art, asintended, without failure.

A container can also be displayed for sale in many different ways as itis offered for purchase. A container can be offered for sale as anindividual article of commerce or packaged with one or more othercontainers or products, which together form an article of commerce. Acontainer can be offered for sale as a primary package with or without asecondary package. A container can be decorated to display characters,graphics, branding, and/or other visual elements when the container isdisplayed for sale. A container can be configured to be displayed forsale while laying down or standing up on a store shelf, while presentedin a merchandising display, while hanging on a display hanger, or whileloaded into a display rack or a vending machine. A container for fluentproduct(s) should be configured with a structure that allows it to bedisplayed in any of these ways, or in any other way known in the art, asintended, without failure.

A container can also be put into use in many different ways, by its enduser. A container can be configured to be held and/or gripped by an enduser, so a container should be appropriately sized and shaped for humanhands; and for this purpose, a container can include useful structuralfeatures such as a handle and/or a gripping surface. A container can bestored while laying down or standing up on a support surface, whilehanging on or from a projection such as a hook or a clip, or whilesupported by a product holder, or (for refillable or rechargeablecontainers) positioned in a refilling or recharging station. A containercan be configured to dispense fluent product(s) while in any of thesestorage positions or while being held by the user. A container can beconfigured to dispense fluent product(s) through the use of gravity,and/or pressure, and/or a dispensing mechanism, such as a pump, or astraw, or through the use of other kinds of dispensers known in the art.Some containers can be configured to be filled and/or refilled by aseller (e.g. a merchant or retailer) or by an end user. A container forfluent product(s) should be configured with a structure that allows itto be put to use in any of these ways, or in any other way known in theart, as intended, without failure. A container can also be configured tobe disposed of by the end user, as waste and/or recyclable material, invarious ways.

One conventional type of container for fluent products is a rigidcontainer made from solid material(s). Examples of conventional rigidcontainers include molded plastic bottles, glass jars, metal cans,cardboard boxes, etc. These conventional rigid containers are well-knownand generally useful; however their designs do present several notabledifficulties.

First, some conventional rigid containers for fluent products can beexpensive to make. Some rigid containers are made by a process shapingone or more solid materials. Other rigid containers are made with aphase change process, where container materials are heated (tosoften/melt), then shaped, then cooled (to harden/solidify). Both kindsof making are energy intensive processes, which can require complexequipment.

Second, some conventional rigid containers for fluent products canrequire significant amounts of material. Rigid containers that aredesigned to stand up on a support surface require solid walls that arethick enough to support the containers when they are filled. This canrequire significant amounts of material, which adds to the cost of thecontainers and can contribute to difficulties with their disposal.

Third, some conventional rigid containers for fluent products can bedifficult to decorate. The sizes, shapes, (e.g. curved surfaces) and/ormaterials of some rigid containers, make it difficult to print directlyon their outside surfaces. Labeling requires additional materials andprocessing, and limits the size and shape of the decoration.Overwrapping provides larger decoration areas, but also requiresadditional materials and processing, often at significant expense.

Fourth, some conventional rigid containers for fluent products can beprone to certain kinds of damage. If a rigid container is pushed againsta rough surface, then the container can become scuffed, which mayobscure printing on the container. If a rigid container is pressedagainst a hard object, then the container can become dented, which maylook unsightly. And if a rigid container is dropped, then the containercan rupture, which may cause its fluent product to be lost.

Fifth, some fluent products in conventional rigid containers can bedifficult to dispense. When an end user squeezes a rigid container todispense its fluent product, the end user must overcome the resistanceof the rigid sides, to deform the container. Some users may lack thehand strength to easily overcome that resistance; these users maydispense less than their desired amount of fluent product. Other usersmay need to apply so much of their hand strength, that they cannoteasily control how much they deform the container; these users maydispense more than their desired amount of fluent product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure describes various embodiments of containers madefrom flexible material. Because these containers are made from flexiblematerial, these containers can be less expensive to make, can use lessmaterial, and can be easier to decorate, when compared with conventionalrigid containers. First, these containers can be less expensive to make,because the conversion of flexible materials (from sheet form tofinished goods) generally requires less energy and complexity, thanformation of rigid materials (from bulk form to finished goods). Second,these containers can use less material, because they are configured withnovel support structures that do not require the use of the thick solidwalls used in conventional rigid containers. Third, these flexiblecontainers can be easier to print and/or decorate, because they are madefrom flexible materials, and flexible materials can be printed and/ordecorated as conformable webs, before they are formed into containers.Fourth, these flexible containers can be less prone to scuffing,denting, and rupture, because flexible materials allow their outersurfaces to deform when contacting surfaces and objects, and then tobounce back. Fifth, fluent products in these flexible containers can bemore readily and carefully dispensed, because the sides of flexiblecontainers can be more easily and controllably squeezed by human hands.Even though the containers of the present disclosure are made fromflexible material, they can be configured with sufficient structuralintegrity, such that they can receive, contain, and dispense fluentproduct(s), as intended, without failure. Also, these containers can beconfigured with sufficient structural integrity, such that they canwithstand external forces and environmental conditions from handling,without failure. Further, these containers can be configured withstructures that allow them to be displayed and put into use, asintended, without failure.

In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, a flexible materialfor a flexible container can include a first laminate and a secondlaminate joined to at least a portion of the first laminate by at leastone seal. The first laminate can include a first gas barrier layerdisposed between first and second sealable layers, wherein the first andsecond sealable layers define opposed exterior layers of the firstlaminate. The second laminate can include a third sealable layerdefining an exterior layer of the second laminate, and a second gasbarrier layer. The at least one seal joins a portion of the thirdsealable layer to at least a portion of the second sealable layer. Theat least one seal has a seal strength of about 20 N/m to about 10,000N/m, the layers of the first laminate having a lamination strengthbetween each adjacent layer of about 2 N/m to about 10,000 N/m, and thelayers of the second laminate have lamination strength between eachadjacent layer of about 2 N/m to about 10,000 N/m.

In accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure, a flexiblematerial for a flexible container can include a first laminate and asecond laminate joined to at least a portion of the first laminate by atleast one seal. The first laminate can include a first gas barrier layerdisposed between first and second sealable layers, wherein the first andsecond sealable layers define opposed exterior layers of the firstlaminate. The second laminate can include a third sealable layerdefining an exterior layer of the second laminate, and a second gasbarrier layer. The at least one seal joins a portion of the thirdsealable layer to at least a portion of the second sealable layer. Theflexible material has a thermal conductivity of about 0.02 W/m·K toabout 300 W/m·K measured at 300 K, and the first, second, and thirdsealable layers each have a melting temperature of about 65° C. to about350° C.

In accordance with yet another embodiment of the disclosure, a flexiblematerial for a flexible container can include a first laminate and asecond laminate joined to at least a portion of the first laminate by atleast one seal. The first laminate can include a first gas barrier layerdisposed between first and second sealable layers, wherein the first andsecond sealable layers define opposed exterior layer of the firstlaminate. The second laminate can include a third sealable layerdefining an exterior layer of the second laminate, and a second gasbarrier layer. The at least one seal joins a portion of the thirdsealable layer to at least a portion of the second sealable layer todefine at least one boundary of the structural support volume, thestructural support volume being disposed between the first and secondlaminates, and in at least a structural support volume forming region ofthe flexible material, the flexible material has a gas transmission rateof about 0.05 cc/m²·day·atm to about 18 cc/m²·day·atm.

In accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure a flexiblematerial for a flexible container can include a first laminate and asecond laminate joined to at least a portion of the first laminate by atleast one first seal. The first laminate can include a first gas barrierlayer disposed between first and second sealable layers, wherein thefirst and second sealable layers define opposed exterior layers of thefirst laminate. The second laminate can include a third sealable layerdefining an exterior layer of the second laminate, and a second gasbarrier layer. The at least one first seal joins a portion of the thirdsealable layer to at least a portion of the second sealable layer. Thesecond laminate has a construction different than the first laminate,and the at least one first seal joins a portion of the third sealablelayer to at least a portion of the second sealable layer to define atleast one boundary of the structural support volume, the structuralsupport volume being disposed between the first and second laminates.The second laminate can include, for example, only one sealable layer asan exterior layer.

In accordance with another embodiment, a container can include aflexible material. The flexible material can include a first laminateand a second laminate. The first laminate can include a first gasbarrier layer disposed between first and second sealable layers, whereinthe first and second sealable layers define opposed exterior layers ofthe first laminate. The second laminate can include a third sealablelayer defining an exterior layer of the second laminate, and a secondgas barrier layer. The container further includes at least one firstseal joining a portion of the third sealable layer to at least a portionof the second sealable layer and defining at least one boundary of thestructural support volume. The structural support volume is disposedbetween the first and second laminates. The container can furtherinclude at least one second seal joining a portion of the first sealablelayer in a first region of the flexible material to a portion of thefirst sealable layer in a second region of the flexible material, the atleast one second seal defining at least one additional boundary of thestructure support volume and at least partially bounding a productvolume. The product volume is provided between the first sealable layerin the first region and the first sealable layer in the second region.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates a front view of an embodiment of a stand up flexiblecontainer.

FIG. 1B illustrates a side view of the stand up flexible container ofFIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C illustrates a top view of the stand up flexible container ofFIG. 1A.

FIG. 1D illustrates a bottom view of the stand up flexible container ofFIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A illustrates a top view of a stand up flexible container having astructural support frame that has an overall shape like a frustum.

FIG. 2B illustrates a front view of the container of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2C illustrates a side view of the container of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2D illustrates an isometric view of the container of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A illustrates a top view of a stand up flexible container having astructural support frame that has an overall shape like a pyramid.

FIG. 3B illustrates a front view of the container of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3C illustrates a side view of the container of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3D illustrates an isometric view of the container of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A illustrates a top view of a stand up flexible container having astructural support frame that has an overall shape like a trigonalprism.

FIG. 4B illustrates a front view of the container of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4C illustrates a side view of the container of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4D illustrates an isometric view of the container of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5A illustrates a top view of a stand up flexible container having astructural support frame that has an overall shape like a tetragonalprism.

FIG. 5B illustrates a front view of the container of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 5C illustrates a side view of the container of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 5D illustrates an isometric view of the container of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6A illustrates a top view of a stand up flexible container having astructural support frame that has an overall shape like a pentagonalprism.

FIG. 6B illustrates a front view of the container of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6C illustrates a side view of the container of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6D illustrates an isometric view of the container of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7A illustrates a top view of a stand up flexible container having astructural support frame that has an overall shape like a cone.

FIG. 7B illustrates a front view of the container of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 7C illustrates a side view of the container of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 7D illustrates an isometric view of the container of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8A illustrates a top view of a stand up flexible container having astructural support frame that has an overall shape like a cylinder.

FIG. 8B illustrates a front view of the container of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 8C illustrates a side view of the container of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 8D illustrates an isometric view of the container of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9A illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a self-supportingflexible container, having an overall shape like a square.

FIG. 9B illustrates an end view of the flexible container of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10A illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a self-supportingflexible container, having an overall shape like a triangle.

FIG. 10B illustrates an end view of the flexible container of FIG. 10A.

FIG. 11A illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a self-supportingflexible container, having an overall shape like a circle.

FIG. 11B illustrates an end view of the flexible container of FIG. 11A.

FIG. 12A illustrates an isometric view of push-pull type dispenser.

FIG. 12B illustrates an isometric view of dispenser with a flip-top cap.

FIG. 12C illustrates an isometric view of dispenser with a screw-on cap.

FIG. 12D illustrates an isometric view of rotatable type dispenser.

FIG. 12E illustrates an isometric view of nozzle type dispenser with acap.

FIG. 13A illustrates an isometric view of straw dispenser.

FIG. 13B illustrates an isometric view of straw dispenser with a lid.

FIG. 13C illustrates an isometric view of flip up straw dispenser.

FIG. 13D illustrates an isometric view of straw dispenser with bitevalve.

FIG. 14A illustrates an isometric view of pump type dispenser.

FIG. 14B illustrates an isometric view of pump spray type dispenser.

FIG. 14C illustrates an isometric view of trigger spray type dispenser.

FIG. 15A illustrates a schematic of a flexible material having first andsecond laminates.

FIG. 15B illustrates a schematic of first and second laminates of aflexible material.

FIG. 16 illustrates a schematic of a flexible material having first andsecond regions each with first seals.

FIG. 17 illustrates a schematic of a flexible material having first andsecond regions with a second seal extending between the first and secondregions.

FIG. 18 illustrates a schematic of a flexible material having first andsecond regions, each with first and second seals.

FIG. 19 illustrates a schematic of two flexible material sheets, eachsheet having first and second laminates and first and second seals.

FIG. 20 illustrates a perspective view of a flexible material folded toform a container blank.

FIG. 21 illustrates a perspective view of two flexible materials joinedto form a container blank.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure describes various embodiments of containers madefrom flexible material. Because these containers are made from flexiblematerial, these containers can be less expensive to make, can use lessmaterial, and can be easier to decorate, when compared with conventionalrigid containers. First, these containers can be less expensive to make,because the conversion of flexible materials (from sheet form tofinished goods) generally requires less energy and complexity, thanformation of rigid materials (from bulk form to finished goods). Second,these containers can use less material, because they are configured withnovel support structures that do not require the use of the thick solidwalls used in conventional rigid containers. Third, these flexiblecontainers can be easier to decorate, because their flexible materialscan be easily printed before they are formed into containers. Fourth,these flexible containers can be less prone to scuffing, denting, andrupture, because flexible materials allow their outer surfaces to deformwhen contacting surfaces and objects, and then to bounce back. Fifth,fluent products in these flexible containers can be more readily andcarefully dispensed, because the sides of flexible containers can bemore easily and controllably squeezed by human hands.

Even though the containers of the present disclosure are made fromflexible material, they can be configured with sufficient structuralintegrity, such that they can receive, contain, and dispense fluentproduct(s), as intended, without failure. Also, these containers can beconfigured with sufficient structural integrity, such that they canwithstand external forces and environmental conditions from handling,without failure. Further, these containers can be configured withstructures that allow them to be displayed for sale and put into use, asintended, without failure.

As used herein, the term “about” modifies a particular value, byreferring to a range equal to the particular value, plus or minus twentypercent (+/−20%). For any of the embodiments of flexible containers,disclosed herein, any disclosure of a particular value, can, in variousalternate embodiments, also be understood as a disclosure of a rangeequal to about that particular value (i.e. +/−20%).

As used herein, the term “ambient conditions” refers to a temperaturewithin the range of 15-35 degrees Celsius and a relative humidity withinthe range of 35-75%.

As used herein, the term “approximately” modifies a particular value, byreferring to a range equal to the particular value, plus or minusfifteen percent (+/−15%). For any of the embodiments of flexiblecontainers, disclosed herein, any disclosure of a particular value, can,in various alternate embodiments, also be understood as a disclosure ofa range equal to approximately that particular value (i.e. +/−15%).

As used herein, when referring to a sheet of material, the term “basisweight” refers to a measure of mass per area, in units of grams persquare meter (gsm). For any of the embodiments of flexible containers,disclosed herein, in various embodiments, any of the flexible materialscan be configured to have a basis weight of 10-1000 gsm, or any integervalue for gsm from 10-1000, or within any range formed by any of thesevalues, such as 20-800 gsm, 30-600 gsm, 40-400 gsm, or 50-200, etc.

As used herein, the term “biocontent” refers to an amount of carbon froma renewable resource in a material as a percent of the mass of the totalorganic carbon in the material, as determined by ASTM D6866-10, methodB; any carbon from inorganic sources such as calcium carbonate is notincluded in determining the bio-based content of the material. Invarious embodiments, materials comprising biocontent can be suitable foruse as flexible materials, for example, as described in published USpatent application 2012288693, which is hereby incorporated byreference.

As used herein, when referring to a flexible container, the term“bottom” refers to the portion of the container that is located in thelowermost 30% of the overall height of the container, that is, from0-30% of the overall height of the container. As used herein, the termbottom can be further limited by modifying the term bottom with aparticular percentage value, which is less than 30%. For any of theembodiments of flexible containers, disclosed herein, a reference to thebottom of the container can, in various alternate embodiments, refer tothe bottom 25% (i.e. from 0-25% of the overall height), the bottom 20%(i.e. from 0-20% of the overall height), the bottom 15% (i.e. from 0-15%of the overall height), the bottom 10% (i.e. from 0-10% of the overallheight), or the bottom 5% (i.e. from 0-5% of the overall height), or anyinteger value for percentage between 0% and 30%.

As used herein, the term “branding” refers to a visual element intendedto distinguish a product from other products. Examples of brandinginclude one of more of any of the following: trademarks, trade dress,logos, icons, and the like. For any of the embodiments of flexiblecontainers, disclosed herein, in various embodiments, any surface of theflexible container can include one or more brandings of any size, shape,or configuration, disclosed herein or known in the art, in anycombination.

As used herein, the term “character” refers to a visual element intendedto convey information. Examples of characters include one or more of anyof the following: letters, numbers, symbols, and the like. For any ofthe embodiments of flexible containers, disclosed herein, in variousembodiments, any surface of the flexible container can include one ormore characters of any size, shape, or configuration, disclosed hereinor known in the art, in any combination.

As used herein, the term “closed” refers to a state of a product volume,wherein fluent products within the product volume are prevented fromescaping the product volume (e.g. by one or more materials that form abarrier, and by a cap), but the product volume is not necessarilyhermetically sealed. For example, a closed container can include a vent,which allows a head space in the container to be in fluid communicationwith air in the environment outside of the container.

As used herein, the term “directly connected” refers to a configurationwherein elements are attached to each other without any intermediateelements therebetween, except for any means of attachment (e.g.adhesive).

As used herein, when referring to a flexible container, the term“dispenser” refers to a structure configured to dispense fluentproduct(s) from a product volume and/or from a mixing volume to theenvironment outside of the container. For any of the flexible containersdisclosed herein, any dispenser can be configured in any way disclosedherein or known in the art, including any suitable size, shape, and flowrate. For example, a dispenser can be a push-pull type dispenser, adispenser with a flip-top cap, a dispenser with a screw-on cap, arotatable type dispenser, dispenser with a cap, a pump type dispenser, apump spray type dispenser, a trigger spray type dispenser, a strawdispenser, a flip up straw dispenser, a straw dispenser with bite valve,a dosing dispenser, etc. A dispenser can be a parallel dispenser,providing multiple flow channels in fluid communication with multipleproduct volumes, wherein those flow channels remain separate until thepoint of dispensing, thus allowing fluent products from multiple productvolumes to be dispensed as separate fluent products, dispensed togetherat the same time. A dispenser can be a mixing dispenser, providing oneor more flow channels in fluid communication with multiple productvolumes, with multiple flow channels combined before the point ofdispensing, thus allowing fluent products from multiple product volumesto be dispensed as the fluent products mixed together. As anotherexample, a dispenser can be formed by a frangible opening. As furtherexamples, a dispenser can utilize one or more valves and/or dispensingmechanisms disclosed in the art, such as those disclosed in: publishedUS patent application 2003/0096068, entitled “One-way valve forinflatable package”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,016 entitled “Self-sealingcontainer”; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,207,717, entitled “Package having afluid actuated closure”; each of which is hereby incorporated byreference. Still further, any of the dispensers disclosed herein, may beincorporated into a flexible container either directly, or incombination with one or more other materials or structures (such as afitment), or in any way known in the art. In some alternate embodiments,dispensers disclosed herein can be configured for both dispensing andfilling, to allow filling of product volume(s) through one or moredispensers. In other alternate embodiments, a product volume can includeone or more filling structure(s) (e.g. for adding water to a mixingvolume) in addition to or instead of one or more dispenser(s). Anylocation for a dispenser, disclosed herein can alternatively be used asa location for a filling structure.

As used herein, when referring to a flexible container, the term“disposable” refers to a container which, after dispensing a product toan end user, is not configured to be refilled with an additional amountof the product, but is configured to be disposed of (i.e. as waste,compost, and/or recyclable material). Part, parts, or all of any of theembodiments of flexible containers, disclosed herein, can be configuredto be disposable.

As used herein, when referring to a flexible container, the term“durable” refers to a container that is reusable more than non-durablecontainers.

As used herein, when referring to a flexible container, the term“effective base contact area” refers to a particular area defined by aportion of the bottom of the container, when the container (with all ofits product volume(s) filled 100% with water) is standing upright andits bottom is resting on a horizontal support surface. The effectivebase contact area lies in a plane defined by the horizontal supportsurface. The effective base contact area is a continuous area bounded onall sides by an outer periphery.

The outer periphery is formed from an actual contact area and from aseries of projected areas from defined cross-sections taken at thebottom of the container. The actual contact area is the one or moreportions of the bottom of the container that contact the horizontalsupport surface, when the effective base contact area is defined. Theeffective base contact area includes all of the actual contact area.However, in some embodiments, the effective base contact area may extendbeyond the actual contact area.

The series of projected area are formed from five horizontalcross-sections, taken at the bottom of the flexible container. Thesecross-sections are taken at 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5% of the overallheight. The outer extent of each of these cross-sections is projectedvertically downward onto the horizontal support surface to form five(overlapping) projected areas, which, together with the actual contactarea, form a single combined area. This is not a summing up of thevalues for these areas, but is the formation of a single combined areathat includes all of these (projected and actual) areas, overlappingeach other, wherein any overlapping portion makes only one contributionto the single combined area.

The outer periphery of the effective base contact area is formed asdescribed below. In the following description, the terms convex,protruding, concave, and recessed are understood from the perspective ofpoints outside of the combined area. The outer periphery is formed by acombination of the outer extent of the combined area and any chords,which are straight line segments constructed as described below.

For each continuous portion of the combined area that has an outerperimeter with a shape that is concave or recessed, a chord isconstructed across that portion. This chord is the shortest straightline segment that can be drawn tangent to the combined area on bothsides of the concave/recessed portion.

For a combined area that is discontinuous (formed by two or moreseparate portions), one or more chords are constructed around the outerperimeter of the combined area, across the one or more discontinuities(open spaces disposed between the portions). These chords are straightlines segments drawn tangent to the outermost separate portions of thecombined area. These chords are drawn to create the largest possibleeffective base contact area.

Thus, the outer periphery is formed by a combination of the outer extentof the combined area and any chords, constructed as described above,which all together enclose the effective base area. Any chords that arebounded by the combined area and/or one or more other chords, are notpart of the outer periphery and should be ignored.

Any of the embodiments of flexible containers, disclosed herein, can beconfigured to have an effective base contact area from 1 to 50,000square centimeters (cm²), or any integer value for cm² between 1 and50,000 cm², or within any range formed by any of the preceding values,such as: from 2 to 25,000 cm², 3 to 10,000 cm², 4 to 5,000 cm², 5 to2,500 cm², from 10 to 1,000 cm², from 20 to 500 cm², from 30 to 300 cm²,from 40 to 200 cm², or from 50 to 100 cm², etc.

As used herein, when referring to a flexible container, the term“expanded” refers to the state of one or more flexible materials thatare configured to be formed into a structural support volume, after thestructural support volume is made rigid by one or more expansionmaterials. An expanded structural support volume has an overall widththat is significantly greater than the combined thickness of its one ormore flexible materials, before the structural support volume is filledwith the one or more expansion materials. Examples of expansionmaterials include liquids (e.g. water), gases (e.g. compressed air),fluent products, foams (that can expand after being added into astructural support volume), co-reactive materials (that produce gas), orphase change materials (that can be added in solid or liquid form, butwhich turn into a gas; for example, liquid nitrogen or dry ice), orother suitable materials known in the art, or combinations of any ofthese (e.g. fluent product and liquid nitrogen). In various embodiments,expansion materials can be added at atmospheric pressure, or added underpressure greater than atmospheric pressure, or added to provide amaterial change that will increase pressure to something aboveatmospheric pressure. For any of the embodiments of flexible containers,disclosed herein, its one or more flexible materials can be expanded atvarious points in time, with respect to its manufacture, sale, and use,including, for example: before or after its product volume(s) are filledwith fluent product(s), before or after the flexible container isshipped to a seller, and before or after the flexible container ispurchased by an end user.

As used herein, when referring to a product volume of a flexiblecontainer, the term “filled” refers to the state when the product volumecontains an amount of fluent product(s) that is equal to a full capacityfor the product volume, with an allowance for head space, under ambientconditions. As used herein, the term filled can be modified by using theterm filled with a particular percentage value, wherein 100% filledrepresents the maximum capacity of the product volume.

As used herein, the term “flat” refers to a surface that is withoutsignificant projections or depressions.

As used herein, the term “flexible container” refers to a containerconfigured to have a product volume, wherein one or more flexiblematerials form 50-100% of the overall surface area of the one or morematerials that define the three-dimensional space of the product volume.For any of the embodiments of flexible containers, disclosed herein, invarious embodiments, the flexible container can be configured to have aproduct volume, wherein one or more flexible materials form a particularpercentage of the overall area of the one or more materials that definethe three-dimensional space, and the particular percentage is anyinteger value for percentage between 50% and 100%, or within any rangeformed by any of these values, such as: 60-100%, or 70-100%, or 80-100%,or 90-100%, etc. One kind of flexible container is a film-basedcontainer, which is a flexible container made from one or more flexiblematerials, which include a film.

For any of the embodiments of flexible containers, disclosed herein, invarious embodiments, the middle of the flexible container (apart fromany fluent product) can be configured to have an overall middle mass,wherein one or more flexible materials form a particular percentage ofthe overall middle mass, and the particular percentage is any integervalue for percentage between 50% and 100%, or within any range formed byany of the preceding values, such as: 60-100%, or 70-100%, or 80-100%,or 90-100%, etc.

For any of the embodiments of flexible containers, disclosed herein, invarious embodiments, the entire flexible container (apart from anyfluent product) can be configured to have an overall mass, wherein oneor more flexible materials form a particular percentage of the overallmass, and the particular percentage is any integer value for percentagebetween 50% and 100%, or within any range formed by any of the precedingvalues, such as: 60-100%, or 70-100%, or 80-100%, or 90-100%, etc.

As used herein, when referring to a flexible container, the term“flexible material” refers to a thin, easily deformable, sheet-likematerial, having a flexibility factor within the range of1,000-2,500,000 N/m. For any of the embodiments of flexible containers,disclosed herein, in various embodiments, any of the flexible materialscan be configured to have a flexibility factor of 1,000-2,500,000 N/m,or any integer value for flexibility factor from 1,000-2,500,000 N/m, orwithin any range formed by any of these values, such as 1,000-1,500,000N/m, 1,500-1,000,000 N/m, 2,500-800,000 N/m, 5,000-700,000 N/m,10,000-600,000 N/m, 15,000-500,000 N/m, 20,000-400,000 N/m,25,000-300,000 N/m, 30,000-200,000 N/m, 35,000-100,000 N/m,40,000-90,000 N/m, or 45,000-85,000 N/m, etc. Throughout the presentdisclosure the terms “flexible material”, “flexible sheet”, “sheet”, and“sheet-like material” are used interchangeably and are intended to havethe same meaning. Examples of materials that can be flexible materialsinclude one or more of any of the following: films (such as plasticfilms), elastomers, foamed sheets, foils, fabrics (including wovens andnonwovens), biosourced materials, and papers, in any configuration, asseparate material(s), or as layer(s) of a laminate, or as part(s) of acomposite material, in a microlayered or nanolayered structure, and inany combination, as described herein or as known in the art. In variousembodiments, part, parts, or all of a flexible material can be coated oruncoated, treated or untreated, processed or unprocessed, in any mannerknown in the art. In various embodiments, parts, parts, or about all, orapproximately all, or substantially all, or nearly all, or all of aflexible material can made of sustainable, bio-sourced, recycled,recyclable, and/or biodegradable material. Part, parts, or about all, orapproximately all, or substantially all, or nearly all, or all of any ofthe flexible materials described herein can be partially or completelytranslucent, partially or completely transparent, or partially orcompletely opaque. The flexible materials used to make the containersdisclosed herein can be formed in any manner known in the art, and canbe joined together using any kind of joining or sealing method known inthe art, including, for example, heat sealing (e.g. conductive sealing,impulse sealing, ultrasonic sealing, etc.), welding, crimping, bonding,adhering, and the like, and combinations of any of these.

As used herein, when referring to a flexible container, the term“flexibility factor” refers to a material parameter for a thin, easilydeformable, sheet-like material, wherein the parameter is measured inNewtons per meter, and the flexibility factor is equal to the product ofthe value for the Young's modulus of the material (measured in Pascals)and the value for the overall thickness of the material (measured inmeters).

As used herein, when referring to a flexible container, the term “fluentproduct” refers to one or more liquids and/or pourable solids, andcombinations thereof. Examples of fluent products include one or more ofany of the following: bites, bits, creams, chips, chunks, crumbs,crystals, emulsions, flakes, gels, grains, granules, jellies, kibbles,liquid solutions, liquid suspensions, lotions, nuggets, ointments,particles, particulates, pastes, pieces, pills, powders, salves, shreds,sprinkles, and the like, either individually or in any combination.Throughout the present disclosure the terms “fluent product” and“flowable product” are used interchangeably and are intended to have thesame meaning. Any of the product volumes disclosed herein can beconfigured to include one or more of any fluent product disclosedherein, or known in the art, in any combination.

As used herein, when referring to a flexible container, the term“formed” refers to the state of one or more materials that areconfigured to be formed into a product volume, after the product volumeis provided with its defined three-dimensional space.

As used herein, the term “gas barrier layer” refers to a layer of alaminate of a flexible material, the gas barrier layer being a materialor coated material that resists the permeation of gas through the layer.The gas barrier layer imparts at least partial resistance to thepermeation of gas through the flexible material. The flexible materialcan include one or more gas barrier layers. The gas barrier layer canhave a gas transmission rate, for example, of about 0.01 cc/m²·day·atmto about 10,000 cc/m²·day·atm, about 0.01 cc/m²·day·atm to about 3000cc/m²·day·atm, about 0.01 cc/m²·day·atm to about 20 cc/m²·day·atm, about0.05 cc/m²·day·atm to about 18 cc/m²·day·atm, about 0.05 cc/m²·day·atmto about 3 cc/m²·day·atm, about 0.05 cc/m²·day·atm to about 1cc/m²·day·atm, about 25 cc/m²·day·atm to about 100 cc/m²·day·atm, about50 cc/m²·day·atm to about 500 cc/m²·day·atm, about 1000 cc/m²·day·atm toabout 5000 cc/m²·day·atm, about 5000 cc/m²·day·atm to about 10,000cc/m²·day·atm. Other suitable gas transmission rates include, forexample, about 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40,45, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 600, 700, 800,900, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000, 7000, 8000, 9000, and 10000cc/m²·day·atm, and any range formed by a combination of these values.For example, the gas barrier layer can have the foregoing gastransmission rates for Nitrogen. Unless otherwise specified, the gastransmission rate is measured by ASTM D 1434-82 at 50% relative humidityand 25° C. using Procedure V with partial pressures of 1 atm of highpurity test gas on the high pressure side and 1 atm of clean atmosphericair on the low pressure side.

An exemplary gas barrier layer is ethylene vinyl alcohol. The gastransmission rate of EVOH can be tailored by varying the thickness andmol % of ethylene content in the layer. The EVOH gas barrier layer caninclude from about 24 mol % to about 48 mol % ethylene, with the lowercontent of ethylene resulting in a gas barrier layer having a lower gastransmission rate. Additionally, the gas transmission rate of the gasbarrier layer can be reduced by providing a thicker layer. For example,the gas transmission rate of a gas barrier layer of EVOH can be tailoredby changing the mol % of ethylene in the barrier material and/orthickness of the gas barrier layer. In general, an increase in the mol %of EVOH will increase the gas transmission rate, with increase thicknessof the gas barrier layer will decrease the gas transmission rate. Forexample, a flexible material having a gas transmission rate for Nitrogenof about 0.05 cc/m²·day·atm, can include a gas barrier layer formed ofEVOH having 32 mol % ethylene and/or the gas barrier can have athickness of about 9 microns or greater. For example, a flexiblematerial having an increased gas transmission rate for Nitrogen, such asa rate of about 18 cc/m²·day·atm, the ethylene content can be increasedto greater than 32 mol % and/or a thickness of less than about 9microns. Other suitable gas barrier layer materials can include, forexample, nylons, polyamides, Nylon 6, polyamide 6, Nylon MXD6, PVOH,PVC, PVDC, PCTFE, sol-gel materials, liquid crystal polymers, coatedsubstrates, PAN3, oriented PA 6, PGA, PHA, PLA, cellulosic esters, TPS,PBS, vacuum metal or metal oxide coated flexible materials (e.g. Al,SiOx, AlOx), nanoclay coated flexible materials, foil, and blends,combinations, laminates, microlayered, nanolayered, and coextrusionsthereof. These materials can be bio-based, petro-based, and/or recycledor reground materials.

As used herein, the term “graphic” refers to a visual element intendedto provide a decoration or to communicate information. Examples ofgraphics include one or more of any of the following: colors, patterns,designs, images, and the like. For any of the embodiments of flexiblecontainers, disclosed herein, in various embodiments, any surface of theflexible container can include one or more graphics of any size, shape,or configuration, disclosed herein or known in the art, in anycombination.

As used herein, when referring to a flexible container, the term “heightarea ratio” refers to a ratio for the container, with units of percentimeter (cm⁻¹), which is equal to the value for the overall height ofthe container (with all of its product volume(s) filled 100% with water,and with overall height measured in centimeters) divided by the valuefor the effective base contact area of the container (with all of itsproduct volume(s) filled 100% with water, and with effective basecontact area measured in square centimeters). For any of the embodimentsof flexible containers, disclosed herein, in various embodiments, any ofthe flexible containers, can be configured to have a height area ratiofrom 0.3 to 3.0 per centimeter, or any value in increments of 0.05 cm⁻¹between 0.3 and 3.0 per centimeter, or within any range formed by any ofthe preceding values, such as: from 0.35 to 2.0 cm⁻¹, from 0.4 to 1.5cm⁻¹, from 0.4 to 1.2 cm⁻¹, or from 0.45 to 0.9 cm⁻¹, etc.

As used herein, the term “indicia” refers to one or more of characters,graphics, branding, or other visual elements, in any combination. Forany of the embodiments of flexible containers, disclosed herein, invarious embodiments, any surface of the flexible container can includeone or more indicia of any size, shape, or configuration, disclosedherein or known in the art, in any combination.

As used herein, the term “indirectly connected” refers to aconfiguration wherein elements are attached to each other with one ormore intermediate elements therebetween.

As used herein, the term “joined” refers to a configuration whereinelements are either directly connected or indirectly connected.

As used herein, the term “lamination strength” refers to the strength ofthe joining connection between adjacent layers of a laminate. Thelaminates in accordance with the disclosure can have a laminationstrength between each of the layers of the laminate of about 2 N/m toabout 10,000 N/m, about 4 N/m to about 9000 N/m, about 17 N/m to about3150 N/m, and about 34 N/m to about 2450 N/m. Other suitable laminationstrengths include about 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85,90, 95, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 225, 250, 275, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500,550, 600, 650, 700, 750, 800, 850, 900, 1000, 1250, 1500, 2000, 2500,3000, 3500, 4000, 4500, 5000, 5500, 6000, 6500, 7000, 7500, 8000, 8500,9000, and 10000 N/m, and any range formed by a combination of thesevalues. Unless otherwise specified, lamination strengths disclosedherein are measured by ASTM F904-98 using a draw rate of 280 mm/min andwith an unseparated portion of the sample left lose to move freely. Thelamination strength can be tailored by selecting the layers in directcontact including use of tie layers and adhesives. For example, where alaminate having a lower lamination strength in the above-described rangeis suitable for a given application, the laminate can be formed withouttie layers and/or with tie layers between some or all of the layers ofthe laminate and/or with very thin tie layers of about 1 micron or less.High lamination strengths can be achieved by directly connecting layersthat are chemically similar or have co-reactivity. For example, Nylonand EVOH have strong reactivity and can generally be coextruded toproduce a high lamination strength without the need for added tie oradhesive layers. Polyethylene layers have chemical similarity with otherpolyethylene containing layers and in some embodiments can be directlyconnected without the need of a tie or adhesive layer to providesufficient laminate strength (i.e., in a range of 2 N/m to 10,000 N/m).

The lamination strength of the laminate can be increased by using a tieor adhesive layer. The lamination strength can be tailored by selectionof the type of tie layer as well as the thickness of the tie layer. Forexample, a tie layer consisting of an adhesive with a water-basedadhesive chemistry and/or thickness of less than 2 microns can be usedwhere lamination strengths at a low end of the above-described range isdesired. Where higher lamination strengths are desired, the tie layercan have an increased thickness, for example, about 2 microns to about 5microns, with solvent based two part adhesives can be used.Additionally, the tie layer can include polymer ties layers. Tie layershaving higher anhydride content, for example, above 150 ppm, in thepolymeric layer can also be used to increase lamination strength betweentwo layers of a laminate. Flexible containers having larger-sizedstructural support volumes may require a flexible material havinglaminates with higher laminate strength to avoid delamination of theflexible material when formed into a flexible container with expandedstructural support volumes.

Exemplary tie layers include, but are not limited to, ethylene acrylateswith either acid or maleic anhydride modification, EVA with or withoutmaleic anhydride (MAH) modification, LDPE with maleic anhydridemodification, LLDPE with maleic anhydride modification, HDPE with maleicanhydride modification, polypropylene with maleic anhydridemodification, ethylene acrylic acid, ionomers, terpolymers, adhesivesincluding solvent, solvent-less, water-based, and two part adhesives,and blends, combinations, laminates, microlayered, nanolayered, andcoextrusions thereof. These materials can be bio-based, petro-based,and/or recycled or reground materials.

As used herein, the term “lateral” refers to a direction, orientation,or measurement that is parallel to a lateral centerline of a container,when the container is standing upright on a horizontal support surface,as described herein. A lateral orientation may also be referred to a“horizontal” orientation, and a lateral measurement may also be referredto as a “width.”

As used herein, the term “like-numbered” refers to similar alphanumericlabels for corresponding elements, as described below. Like-numberedelements have labels with the same last two digits; for example, oneelement with a label ending in the digits 20 and another element with alabel ending in the digits 20 are like-numbered. Like-numbered elementscan have labels with a differing first digit, wherein that first digitmatches the number for its figure; as an example, an element of FIG. 3labeled 320 and an element of FIG. 4 labeled 420 are like-numbered.Like-numbered elements can have labels with a suffix (i.e. the portionof the label following the dash symbol) that is the same or possiblydifferent (e.g. corresponding with a particular embodiment); forexample, a first embodiment of an element in FIG. 3A labeled 320-a and asecond embodiment of an element in FIG. 3B labeled 320-b, are likenumbered.

As used herein, the term “liquid barrier layer” refers to a layer of alaminate of a flexible material, wherein the liquid barrier layer is a(coated or uncoated) material that is configured to provide reducedpermeation of moisture and/or moisture vapor, and when present in thelaminate provides the primary contribution for reduced permeation ofmoisture and/or moisture vapor to the laminate. In some embodiments, theliquid barrier layer can be substantially impermeable to liquids. Theliquid barrier layer can have a moisture vapor transmission rate ofabout 0.05 g/m²·day to about 12 g/m²·day, about 0.07 g/m²·day to about 6g/m²·day, or about 0.1 g/m²·day to about 4 g/m²·day. Other suitablemoisture vapor transmission rates include, for example, about 0.05,0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1,2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 g/m²·day, any range formed by a combination of thesevalues. The liquid barrier layer can include a material or coatingselected from the group consisting of metal foils, vacuum metal or metaloxide coated substrates, (e.g. Al, SiOx, AlOx) Biaxially orientedpolypropylene (BOPP), HDPE, cyclic copolymers olefins, PP, LDPE, LLDPE,ionomer, PET and blends, combinations, laminates, microlayered,nanolayered, and coextrusions thereof. These materials can be bio-based,petro-based, and/or recycled or reground materials.

As used herein, the term “longitudinal” refers to a direction,orientation, or measurement that is parallel to a longitudinalcenterline of a container, when the container is standing upright on ahorizontal support surface, as described herein. A longitudinalorientation may also be referred to a “vertical” orientation. Whenexpressed in relation to a horizontal support surface for a container, alongitudinal measurement may also be referred to as a “height”, measuredabove the horizontal support surface.

As used herein, when referring to a flexible container, the term“middle” refers to the portion of the container that is located inbetween the top of the container and the bottom of the container. Asused herein, the term middle can be modified by describing the termmiddle with reference to a particular percentage value for the topand/or a particular percentage value for the bottom. For any of theembodiments of flexible containers, disclosed herein, a reference to themiddle of the container can, in various alternate embodiments, refer tothe portion of the container that is located between any particularpercentage value for the top, disclosed herein, and/or any particularpercentage value for the bottom, disclosed herein, in any combination.

As used herein, the term “mixing volume” refers to a type product volumethat is configured to receive one or more fluent product(s) from one ormore product volumes and/or from the environment outside of thecontainer.

As used herein, when referring to a product volume, the term “multipledose” refers to a product volume that is sized to contain a particularamount of product that is about equal to two or more units of typicalconsumption, application, or use by an end user. Any of the embodimentsof flexible containers, disclosed herein, can be configured to have oneor more multiple dose product volumes. A container with only one productvolume, which is a multiple dose product volume, is referred to hereinas a “multiple dose container.”

As used herein, the term “nearly” modifies a particular value, byreferring to a range equal to the particular value, plus or minus fivepercent (+/−5%). For any of the embodiments of flexible containers,disclosed herein, any disclosure of a particular value, can, in variousalternate embodiments, also be understood as a disclosure of a rangeequal to approximately that particular value (i.e. +/−5%).

As used herein, when referring to a flexible container, the term“non-durable” refers to a container that is temporarily reusable, ordisposable, or single use.

As used herein, when referring to a flexible container, the term“overall height” refers to a distance that is measured while thecontainer is standing upright on a horizontal support surface, thedistance measured vertically from the upper side of the support surfaceto a point on the top of the container, which is farthest away from theupper side of the support surface. Any of the embodiments of flexiblecontainers, disclosed herein, can be configured to have an overallheight from 2.0 cm to 100.0 cm, or any value in increments of 0.1 cmbetween 2.0 and 100.0 cm, or within any range formed by any of thepreceding values, such as: from 4.0 to 90.0 cm, from 5.0 to 80.0 cm,from 6.0 to 70.0 cm, from 7.0 to 60.0 cm, from 8.0 to 50.0 cm, from 9.0to 40.0 cm, or from 10.0 to 30.0, etc.

As used herein, when referring to a sheet of flexible material, the term“overall thickness” refers to a linear dimension measured perpendicularto the outer major surfaces of the sheet, when the sheet is lying flat.For any of the embodiments of flexible containers, disclosed herein, invarious embodiments, any of the flexible materials can be configured tohave an overall thickness 5-500 micrometers (μm), or any integer valuefor micrometers from 5-500, or within any range formed by any of thesevalues, such as 10-500 μm, 20-400 μm, 30-300 μm, 40-200 μm, or 50-100μm, etc.

As used herein, the term “product volume” refers to an enclosablethree-dimensional space that is configured to receive and directlycontain one or more fluent product(s), wherein that space is defined byone or more materials that form a barrier that prevents the fluentproduct(s) from escaping the product volume. By directly containing theone or more fluent products, the fluent products come into contact withthe materials that form the enclosable three-dimensional space; there isno intermediate material or container, which prevents such contact.Throughout the present disclosure the terms “product volume” and“product receiving volume” are used interchangeably and are intended tohave the same meaning. Any of the embodiments of flexible containers,disclosed herein, can be configured to have any number of productvolumes including one product volume, two product volumes, three productvolumes, four product volumes, five product volumes, six productvolumes, or even more product volumes. In some embodiments, one or moreproduct volumes can be enclosed within another product volume. Any ofthe product volumes disclosed herein can have a product volume of anysize, including from 0.001 liters to 100.0 liters, or any value inincrements of 0.001 liters between 0.001 liters and 3.0 liters, or anyvalue in increments of 0.01 liters between 3.0 liters and 10.0 liters,or any value in increments of 1.0 liters between 10.0 liters and 100.0liters, or within any range formed by any of the preceding values, suchas: from 0.001 to 2.2 liters, 0.01 to 2.0 liters, 0.05 to 1.8 liters,0.1 to 1.6 liters, 0.15 to 1.4 liters, 0.2 to 1.2 liters, 0.25 to 1.0liters, etc. A product volume can have any shape in any orientation. Aproduct volume can be included in a container that has a structuralsupport frame, and a product volume can be included in a container thatdoes not have a structural support frame.

As used herein, the term “print layer” refers to a layer of a laminateof a flexible material, wherein the print layer is a material having atleast one major surface that is configured to receive and retain an ink,including a material that is treated in at least a portion in order tohave a sufficient surface energy to receive and retain an ink. Forexample, a material can be treated by corona treatment, plasmatreatment, and/or oxidation via flame. Exemplary print layer materialsinclude, but are not limited to, papers, oriented and un-orientedpolyesters, PET, co-polyesters, PETG, PEF, PBT, PLA, Nylons orPolyamides, cellulosic or cellulosic esters, PHA, PVC, ionomers, such assodium ionomer or a zinc ionomer, thermoplastic starch, polyolefinsincluding, cyclic polyolefins, LLDPE and PP, LDPE, HDPE, MDPE,manufactured using Ziegler-Natta catalysts, Chromium catalysts,metallocene based catalysts, single site catalysts and other types ofcatalysts as homopolymers or copolymers. The materials listed above canbe bio-based, petro-based and recycled/reground. These materials couldalso be combinations, blends, coextrusions, microlayer/nanolayer systemsand laminates of the above-materials.

As used herein, the term “reinforcing layer” refers to a layer of alaminate of a flexible material, wherein the reinforcing layer is amaterial is configured to provide creep resistance, and when present inthe laminate is the primary contributor providing creep resistance tothe laminate. The reinforcing layer can further provide punctureresistance and ruggedness, and when present in the laminate is theprimary contributor providing puncture resistance and ruggedness to thelaminate. Examples of reinforcing layer materials include nylons,polyesters, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene, orientedpolyethylene, polypropylene, oriented polypropylene, polyamides, PEF,PETG, cyclic polyolefins, PBT, PLA, ionomer, such as a sodium ionomer orzinc ionomer, cellulosic or cellulosic esters, PHA, PVC, thermoplasticstarch, polyolefins such as HDPE, POM, PPS, liquid crystalline layers,PEK, PEEK, and homopolymer, copolymer, blends, combinations, laminates,microlayered, nanolayered, and coextrusions thereof. The reinforcinglayer can be bio-based, petro-based, and/or recycled or regroundmaterials.

As used herein, when referring to a flexible container, the term“resting on a horizontal support surface” refers to the containerresting directly on the horizontal support surface, without othersupport.

As used herein, the term “sealable layer” refers to a layer of alaminate of a flexible material, wherein the sealable layer is amaterial that is configured to be sealed to itself or another sealablelayer using any kind of sealing method known in the art, including, forexample, heat sealing (e.g. conductive sealing, impulse sealing,ultrasonic sealing, etc.), welding, crimping, bonding, and the like, andcombinations of any of these. Exemplary sealable layers include, but arenot limited, low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low densitypolyethylene (LLDPE), LLDPE copolymers with any one or more of butene,hexene and octene, metallocene LLDPE (mPE) or metallocene plastomers,metallocene elastomers, high density polyethylene (HDPE), rubbermodified LDPE, rubber modified LLDPE, acid copolymers, polysytyrene,cyclic polyolefins, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), ethylene acrylic acid(EAA), ionomers, terpolymers, Barex, polypropylene, bimodal resins, anyof which may be from either homopolymers or copolymers, and blends,combinations, laminates, microlayered, nanolayered, and coextrusionsthereof. Polyolefins could be manufactured using Ziegler-Nattacatalysts, Chromium catalysts, metallocene based catalysts, single sitecatalysts and other types of catalysts. The materials listed could bebio-based, petro-based and recycled/reground. Resins could be foamed.

As used herein, the term “sealed,” when referring to a product volume,refers to a state of the product volume wherein fluent products withinthe product volume are prevented from escaping the product volume (e.g.by one or more materials that form a barrier, and by a seal), and theproduct volume is hermetically sealed.

As used herein, the term “seal strength” refers to the strength of theseal between adjacent laminates, between adjacent major surfaces of aflexible material, or between two or more adjacent flexible materialsformed using any kind of sealing method known in the art, including, forexample, heat sealing (e.g. conductive sealing, impulse sealing,ultrasonic sealing, etc.), welding, crimping, bonding, and the like, andcombinations of any of these. The seal strength between first and secondlaminates of a flexible material and/or a seal joining a sealable layerto itself in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure can be about20 N/m to about 10,000 N/m, about 85 N/m to about 3500 N/m, and about300 N/m to about 1250 N/m. Other suitable seal strengths include about20, 25, 35, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85, 95, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 225, 250,275, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650, 700, 750, 800, 850, 900,1000, 1250, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000, 3500, 4000, 4500, 5000, 5500, 6000,6500, 7000, 7500, 8000, 8500, 9000, and 10000 N/m, and any range formedby a combination of these values. Unless otherwise specified sealstrengths disclosed herein are measured by ASTM F 88/F 88M-09 withtechnique B (supported at 90 degrees) run at 200 mm/min in a tensiletesting machine with specimens cut to 25.4 mm width. Samples may bejoined together in a configuration as indicated as a fin seal or hotwire seal and sized accordingly. The seal strength should be taken fromthe initial plateau of force measured as the seal peel initiationbegins. Seal widths are 10 mm and seals are produced at the conditionsof temperature, pressure, and dwell time that provide maximum peel forcefor a particular method of sealing the two materials together as isknown in the art. In one example, a pressure of about 2.5 bar, a dwelltime of about 0.5 seconds and a temperature of 85-135° C. can be used tomaximize a seal created by heat sealing two sealable materials together.Sealable layers having high content of LLDPE (Zeigler-Natta), forexample, at least 90 wt %, can form seals having high seal strengths,for example, at the upper end of the above-described range for sealstrength. Other possible sealant layers include metallocene LLDPE(mLLDPE), Barex, Ionomers, HDPE, which generally have lower sealstrengths as compared to LLDPE. The seal strength can be tailored byselection of the sealable layers and/or a content of LLDPE in thesealable layers.

As used herein, when referring to a flexible container, the term“self-supporting” refers to a container that includes a product volumeand a structural support frame, wherein, when the container is restingon a horizontal support surface, in at least one orientation, thestructural support frame is configured to prevent the container fromcollapsing and to give the container an overall height that issignificantly greater than the combined thickness of the materials thatform the container, even when the product volume is unfilled. Any of theembodiments of flexible containers, disclosed herein, can be configuredto be self-supporting.

As used herein, when referring to a flexible container, the term “singleuse” refers to a closed container which, after being opened by an enduser, is not configured to be reclosed. Any of the embodiments offlexible containers, disclosed herein, can be configured to be singleuse.

As used herein, when referring to a product volume, the term “singledose” refers to a product volume that is sized to contain a particularamount of product that is about equal to one unit of typicalconsumption, application, or use by an end user. Any of the embodimentsof flexible containers, disclosed herein, can be configured to have oneor more single dose product volumes. A container with only one productvolume, which is a single dose product volume, is referred to herein asa “single dose container.”

As used herein, when referring to a flexible container, the terms “standup,” “stands up,” “standing up”, “stand upright”, “stands upright”, and“standing upright” refer to a particular orientation of aself-supporting flexible container, when the container is resting on ahorizontal support surface. This standing upright orientation can bedetermined from the structural features of the container and/or indiciaon the container. In a first determining test, if the flexible containerhas a clearly defined base structure that is configured to be used onthe bottom of the container, then the container is determined to bestanding upright when this base structure is resting on the horizontalsupport surface. If the first test cannot determine the standing uprightorientation, then, in a second determining test, the container isdetermined to be standing upright when the container is oriented to reston the horizontal support surface such that the indicia on the flexiblecontainer are best positioned in an upright orientation. If the secondtest cannot determine the standing upright orientation, then, in a thirddetermining test, the container is determined to be standing uprightwhen the container is oriented to rest on the horizontal support surfacesuch that the container has the largest overall height. If the thirdtest cannot determine the standing upright orientation, then, in afourth determining test, the container is determined to be standingupright when the container is oriented to rest on the horizontal supportsurface such that the container has the largest height area ratio. Ifthe fourth test cannot determine the standing upright orientation, then,any orientation used in the fourth determining test can be considered tobe a standing upright orientation.

As used herein, when referring to a flexible container, the term “standup container” refers to a self-supporting container, wherein, when thecontainer (with all of its product volume(s) filled 100% with water) isstanding up, the container has a height area ratio from 0.4 to 1.5 cm⁻¹.Any of the embodiments of flexible containers, disclosed herein, can beconfigured to be stand up containers.

As used herein, when referring to a flexible container, the term“structural support frame” refers to a rigid structure formed of one ormore structural support members, joined together, around one or moresizable empty spaces and/or one or more nonstructural panels, andgenerally used as a major support for the product volume(s) in theflexible container and in making the container self-supporting and/orstanding upright. In each of the embodiments disclosed herein, when aflexible container includes a structural support frame and one or moreproduct volumes, the structural support frame is considered to besupporting the product volumes of the container, unless otherwiseindicated.

As used herein, when referring to a flexible container, the term“structural support member” refers to a rigid, physical structure, whichincludes one or more expanded structural support volumes, and which isconfigured to be used in a structural support frame, to carry one ormore loads (from the flexible container) across a span. A structure thatdoes not include at least one expanded structural support volume, is notconsidered to be a structural support member, as used herein.

A structural support member has two defined ends, a middle between thetwo ends, and an overall length from its one end to its other end. Astructural support member can have one or more cross-sectional areas,each of which has an overall width that is less than its overall length.

A structural support member can be configured in various forms. Astructural support member can include one, two, three, four, five, sixor more structural support volumes, arranged in various ways. Forexample, a structural support member can be formed by a singlestructural support volume. As another example, a structural supportmember can be formed by a plurality of structural support volumes,disposed end to end, in series, wherein, in various embodiments, part,parts, or about all, or approximately all, or substantially all, ornearly all, or all of some or all of the structural support volumes canbe partly or fully in contact with each other, partly or fully directlyconnected to each other, and/or partly or fully joined to each other. Asa further example, a structural support member can be formed by aplurality of support volumes disposed side by side, in parallel,wherein, in various embodiments, part, parts, or about all, orapproximately all, or substantially all, or nearly all, or all of someor all of the structural support volumes can be partly or fully incontact with each other, partly or fully directly connected to eachother, and/or partly or fully joined to each other.

In some embodiments, a structural support member can include a number ofdifferent kinds of elements. For example, a structural support membercan include one or more structural support volumes along with one ormore mechanical reinforcing elements (e.g. braces, collars, connectors,joints, ribs, etc.), which can be made from one or more rigid (e.g.solid) materials.

Structural support members can have various shapes and sizes. Part,parts, or about all, or approximately all, or substantially all, ornearly all, or all of a structural support member can be straight,curved, angled, segmented, or other shapes, or combinations of any ofthese shapes. Part, parts, or about all, or approximately all, orsubstantially all, or nearly all, or all of a structural support membercan have any suitable cross-sectional shape, such as circular, oval,square, triangular, star-shaped, or modified versions of these shapes,or other shapes, or combinations of any of these shapes. A structuralsupport member can have an overall shape that is tubular, or convex, orconcave, along part, parts, or about all, or approximately all, orsubstantially all, or nearly all, or all of a length. A structuralsupport member can have any suitable cross-sectional area, any suitableoverall width, and any suitable overall length. A structural supportmember can be substantially uniform along part, parts, or about all, orapproximately all, or substantially all, or nearly all, or all of itslength, or can vary, in any way described herein, along part, parts, orabout all, or approximately all, or substantially all, or nearly all, orall of its length. For example, a cross-sectional area of a structuralsupport member can increase or decrease along part, parts, or all of itslength. Part, parts, or all of any of the embodiments of structuralsupport members of the present disclosure, can be configured accordingto any embodiment disclosed herein, including any workable combinationof structures, features, materials, and/or connections from any numberof any of the embodiments disclosed herein.

As used herein, when referring to a flexible container, the term“structural support volume” refers to a fillable space made from one ormore flexible materials, wherein the space is configured to be at leastpartially filled with one or more expansion materials, which createtension in the one or more flexible materials, and form an expandedstructural support volume. One or more expanded structural supportvolumes can be configured to be included in a structural support member.A structural support volume is distinct from structures configured inother ways, such as: structures without a fillable space (e.g. an openspace), structures made from inflexible (e.g. solid) materials,structures with spaces that are not configured to be filled with anexpansion material (e.g. an unattached area between adjacent layers in amulti-layer panel), and structures with flexible materials that are notconfigured to be expanded by an expansion material (e.g. a space in astructure that is configured to be a non-structural panel). Throughoutthe present disclosure the terms “structural support volume” and“expandable chamber” are used interchangeably and are intended to havethe same meaning.

In some embodiments, a structural support frame can include a pluralityof structural support volumes, wherein some of or all of the structuralsupport volumes are in fluid communication with each other. In otherembodiments, a structural support frame can include a plurality ofstructural support volumes, wherein some of or none of the structuralsupport volumes are in fluid communication with each other. Any of thestructural support frames of the present disclosure can be configured tohave any kind of fluid communication disclosed herein.

As used herein, the term “substantially” modifies a particular value, byreferring to a range equal to the particular value, plus or minus tenpercent (+/−10%). For any of the embodiments of flexible containers,disclosed herein, any disclosure of a particular value, can, in variousalternate embodiments, also be understood as a disclosure of a rangeequal to approximately that particular value (i.e. +/−10%).

As used herein, when referring to a flexible container, the term“temporarily reusable” refers to a container which, after dispensing aproduct to an end user, is configured to be refilled with an additionalamount of a product, up to ten times, before the container experiences afailure that renders it unsuitable for receiving, containing, ordispensing the product. As used herein, the term temporarily reusablecan be further limited by modifying the number of times that thecontainer can be refilled before the container experiences such afailure. For any of the embodiments of flexible containers, disclosedherein, a reference to temporarily reusable can, in various alternateembodiments, refer to temporarily reusable by refilling up to eighttimes before failure, by refilling up to six times before failure, byrefilling up to four times before failure, or by refilling up to twotimes before failure, or any integer value for refills between one andten times before failure. Any of the embodiments of flexible containers,disclosed herein, can be configured to be temporarily reusable, for thenumber of refills disclosed herein.

As used herein, the term “thickness” refers to a measurement that isparallel to a third centerline of a container, when the container isstanding upright on a horizontal support surface, as described herein. Athickness may also be referred to as a “depth.”

As used herein, when referring to a flexible container, the term “top”refers to the portion of the container that is located in the uppermost20% of the overall height of the container, that is, from 80-100% of theoverall height of the container. As used herein, the term top can befurther limited by modifying the term top with a particular percentagevalue, which is less than 20%. For any of the embodiments of flexiblecontainers, disclosed herein, a reference to the top of the containercan, in various alternate embodiments, refer to the top 15% (i.e. from85-100% of the overall height), the top 10% (i.e. from 90-100% of theoverall height), or the top 5% (i.e. from 95-100% of the overallheight), or any integer value for percentage between 0% and 20%.

As used herein, when referring to a flexible container, the term“unexpanded” refers to the state of one or more materials that areconfigured to be formed into a structural support volume, before thestructural support volume is made rigid by an expansion material.

As used herein, when referring to a product volume of a flexiblecontainer, the term “unfilled” refers to the state of the product volumewhen it does not contain a fluent product.

As used herein, when referring to a flexible container, the term“unformed” refers to the state of one or more materials that areconfigured to be formed into a product volume, before the product volumeis provided with its defined three-dimensional space. For example, anarticle of manufacture could be a container blank with an unformedproduct volume, wherein sheets of flexible material, with portionsjoined together, are laying flat against each other.

Flexible containers, as described herein, may be used across a varietyof industries for a variety of products. For example, flexiblecontainers, as described herein, may be used across the consumerproducts industry, including the following products: soft surfacecleaners, hard surface cleaners, glass cleaners, ceramic tile cleaners,toilet bowl cleaners, wood cleaners, multi-surface cleaners, surfacedisinfectants, dishwashing compositions, laundry detergents, fabricconditioners, fabric dyes, surface protectants, surface disinfectants,cosmetics, facial powders, body powders, hair treatment products (e.g.mousse, hair spray, styling gels), shampoo, hair conditioner (leave-inor rinse-out), cream rinse, hair dye, hair coloring product, hair shineproduct, hair serum, hair anti-frizz product, hair split-end repairproducts, permanent waving solution, antidandruff formulation, bathgels, shower gels, body washes, facial cleaners, skin care products(e.g. sunscreen, sun block lotions, lip balm, skin conditioner, coldcreams, moisturizers), body sprays, soaps, body scrubs, exfoliants,astringent, scrubbing lotions, depilatories, antiperspirantcompositions, deodorants, shaving products, pre-shaving products, aftershaving products, toothpaste, mouthwash, etc. As further examples,flexible containers, as described herein, may be used across otherindustries, including foods, beverages, pharmaceuticals, commercialproducts, industrial products, medical, etc.

FIGS. 1A-1D illustrates various views of an embodiment of a stand upflexible container 100. FIG. 1A illustrates a front view of thecontainer 100. The container 100 is standing upright on a horizontalsupport surface 101.

In FIG. 1A, a coordinate system 110, provides lines of reference forreferring to directions in the figure. The coordinate system 110 is athree-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system with an X-axis, a Y-axis,and a Z-axis, wherein each axis is perpendicular to the other axes, andany two of the axes define a plane. The X-axis and the Z-axis areparallel with the horizontal support surface 101 and the Y-axis isperpendicular to the horizontal support surface 101.

FIG. 1A also includes other lines of reference, for referring todirections and locations with respect to the container 100. A lateralcenterline 111 runs parallel to the X-axis. An XY plane at the lateralcenterline 111 separates the container 100 into a front half and a backhalf. An XZ plane at the lateral centerline 111 separates the container100 into an upper half and a lower half. A longitudinal centerline 114runs parallel to the Y-axis. A YZ plane at the longitudinal centerline114 separates the container 100 into a left half and a right half. Athird centerline 117 runs parallel to the Z-axis. The lateral centerline111, the longitudinal centerline 114, and the third centerline 117 allintersect at a center of the container 100.

A disposition with respect to the lateral centerline 111 defines what islongitudinally inboard 112 and longitudinally outboard 113. When a firstlocation is nearer to the lateral centerline 111 than a second location,the first location is considered to be disposed longitudinally inboard112 to the second location. And, the second location is considered to bedisposed longitudinally outboard 113 from the first location. The termlateral refers to a direction, orientation, or measurement that isparallel to the lateral centerline 111. A lateral orientation may alsobe referred to a horizontal orientation, and a lateral measurement mayalso be referred to as a width.

A disposition with respect to the longitudinal centerline 114 defineswhat is laterally inboard 115 and laterally outboard 116. When a firstlocation is nearer to the longitudinal centerline 114 than a secondlocation, the first location is considered to be disposed laterallyinboard 115 to the second location. And, the second location isconsidered to be disposed laterally outboard 116 from the firstlocation. The term longitudinal refers to a direction, orientation, ormeasurement that is parallel to the longitudinal centerline 114. Alongitudinal orientation may also be referred to a vertical orientation.

A longitudinal direction, orientation, or measurement may also beexpressed in relation to a horizontal support surface for the container100. When a first location is nearer to the support surface than asecond location, the first location can be considered to be disposedlower than, below, beneath, or under the second location. And, thesecond location can be considered to be disposed higher than, above, orupward from the first location. A longitudinal measurement may also bereferred to as a height, measured above the horizontal support surface100.

A measurement that is made parallel to the third centerline 117 isreferred to a thickness or depth. A disposition in the direction of thethird centerline 117 and toward a front 102-1 of the container isreferred to as forward 118 or in front of. A disposition in thedirection of the third centerline 117 and toward a back 102-2 of thecontainer is referred to as backward 119 or behind.

These terms for direction, orientation, measurement, and disposition, asdescribed above, are used for all of the embodiments of the presentdisclosure, whether or not a support surface, reference line, orcoordinate system is shown in a figure.

The container 100 includes a top 104, a middle 106, and a bottom 108,the front 102-1, the back 102-2, and left and right sides 109. The top104 is separated from the middle 106 by a reference plane 105, which isparallel to the XZ plane. The middle 106 is separated from the bottom108 by a reference plane 107, which is also parallel to the XZ plane.The container 100 has an overall height of 100-oh. In the embodiment ofFIG. 1A, the front 102-1 and the back 102-2 of the container are joinedtogether at a seal 129, which extends around the outer periphery of thecontainer 100, across the top 104, down the side 109, and then, at thebottom of each side 109, splits outward to follow the front and backportions of the base 190, around their outer extents.

The container 100 includes a structural support frame 140, a productvolume 150, a dispenser 160, panels 180-1 and 180-2, and a basestructure 190. A portion of panel 180-1 is illustrated as broken away,in order to show the product volume 150. The product volume 150 isconfigured to contain one or more fluent products. The dispenser 160allows the container 100 to dispense these fluent product(s) from theproduct volume 150 through a flow channel 159 then through the dispenser160, to the environment outside of the container 100. In the embodimentof FIGS. 1A-1D, the dispenser 160 is disposed in the center of theuppermost part of the top 104, however, in various alternateembodiments, the dispenser 160 can be disposed anywhere else on the top140, middle 106, or bottom 108, including anywhere on either of thesides 109, on either of the panels 180-1 and 180-2, and on any part ofthe base 190 of the container 100. The structural support frame 140supports the mass of fluent product(s) in the product volume 150, andmakes the container 100 stand upright. The panels 180-1 and 180-2 arerelatively flat surfaces, overlaying the product volume 150, and aresuitable for displaying any kind of indicia. However, in variousembodiments, part, parts, or about all, or approximately all, orsubstantially all, or nearly all, or all of either or both of the panels180-1 and 180-2 can include one or more curved surfaces. The basestructure 190 supports the structural support frame 140 and providesstability to the container 100 as it stands upright.

The structural support frame 140 is formed by a plurality of structuralsupport members. The structural support frame 140 includes topstructural support members 144-1 and 144-2, middle structural supportmembers 146-1, 146-2, 146-3, and 146-4, as well as bottom structuralsupport members 148-1 and 148-2.

The top structural support members 144-1 and 144-2 are disposed on theupper part of the top 104 of the container 100, with the top structuralsupport member 144-1 disposed in the front 102-1 and the top structuralsupport member 144-2 disposed in the back 102-2, behind the topstructural support member 144-1. The top structural support members144-1 and 144-2 are adjacent to each other and can be in contact witheach other along the laterally outboard portions of their lengths. Invarious embodiments, the top structural support members 144-1 and 144-2can be in contact with each other at one or more relatively smallerlocations and/or at one or more relatively larger locations, along part,or parts, or about all, or approximately all, or substantially all, ornearly all, or all of their overall lengths, so long as there is a flowchannel 159 between the top structural support members 144-1 and 144-2,which allows the container 100 to dispense fluent product(s) from theproduct volume 150 through the flow channel 159 then through thedispenser 160. The top structural support members 144-1 and 144-2 arenot directly connected to each other. However, in various alternateembodiments, the top structural support members 144-1 and 144-2 can bedirectly connected and/or joined together along part, or parts, or aboutall, or approximately all, or substantially all, or nearly all, or allof their overall lengths.

The top structural support members 144-1 and 144-2 are disposedsubstantially above the product volume 150. Overall, each of the topstructural support members 144-1 and 144-2 is oriented abouthorizontally, but with its ends curved slightly downward. And, overalleach of the top structural support members 144-1 and 144-2 has across-sectional area that is substantially uniform along its length;however the cross-sectional area at their ends are slightly larger thanthe cross-sectional area in their middles.

The middle structural support members 146-1, 146-2, 146-3, and 146-4 aredisposed on the left and right sides 109, from the top 104, through themiddle 106, to the bottom 108. The middle structural support member146-1 is disposed in the front 102-1, on the left side 109; the middlestructural support member 146-4 is disposed in the back 102-2, on theleft side 109, behind the middle structural support member 146-1. Themiddle structural support members 146-1 and 146-4 are adjacent to eachother and can be in contact with each other along substantially all oftheir lengths. In various embodiments, the middle structural supportmembers 146-1 and 146-4 can be in contact with each other at one or morerelatively smaller locations and/or at one or more relatively largerlocations, along part, or parts, or about all, or approximately all, orsubstantially all, or nearly all, or all of their overall lengths. Themiddle structural support members 146-1 and 146-4 are not directlyconnected to each other. However, in various alternate embodiments, themiddle structural support members 146-1 and 146-4 can be directlyconnected and/or joined together along part, or parts, or about all, orapproximately all, or substantially all, or nearly all, or all of theiroverall lengths.

The middle structural support member 146-2 is disposed in the front102-1, on the right side 109; the middle structural support member 146-3is disposed in the back 102-2, on the right side 109, behind the middlestructural support member 146-2. The middle structural support members146-2 and 146-3 are adjacent to each other and can be in contact witheach other along substantially all of their lengths. In variousembodiments, the middle structural support members 146-2 and 146-3 canbe in contact with each other at one or more relatively smallerlocations and/or at one or more relatively larger locations, along part,or parts, or about all, or approximately all, or substantially all, ornearly all, or all of their overall lengths. The middle structuralsupport members 146-2 and 146-3 are not directly connected to eachother. However, in various alternate embodiments, the middle structuralsupport members 146-2 and 146-3 can be directly connected and/or joinedtogether along part, or parts, or about all, or approximately all, orsubstantially all, or nearly all, or all of their overall lengths.

The middle structural support members 146-1, 146-2, 146-3, and 146-4 aredisposed substantially laterally outboard from the product volume 150.Overall, each of the middle structural support members 146-1, 146-2,146-3, and 146-4 is oriented about vertically, but angled slightly, withits upper end laterally inboard to its lower end. And, overall each ofthe middle structural support members 146-1, 146-2, 146-3, and 146-4 hasa cross-sectional area that changes along its length, increasing in sizefrom its upper end to its lower end.

The bottom structural support members 148-1 and 148-2 are disposed onthe bottom 108 of the container 100, with the bottom structural supportmember 148-1 disposed in the front 102-1 and the bottom structuralsupport member 148-2 disposed in the back 102-2, behind the topstructural support member 148-1. The bottom structural support members148-1 and 148-2 are adjacent to each other and can be in contact witheach other along substantially all of their lengths. In variousembodiments, the bottom structural support members 148-1 and 148-2 canbe in contact with each other at one or more relatively smallerlocations and/or at one or more relatively larger locations, along part,or parts, or about all, or approximately all, or substantially all, ornearly all, or all of their overall lengths. The bottom structuralsupport members 148-1 and 148-2 are not directly connected to eachother. However, in various alternate embodiments, the bottom structuralsupport members 148-1 and 148-2 can be directly connected and/or joinedtogether along part, or parts, or about all, or approximately all, orsubstantially all, or nearly all, or all of their overall lengths.

The bottom structural support members 148-1 and 148-2 are disposedsubstantially below the product volume 150, but substantially above thebase structure 190. Overall, each of the bottom structural supportmembers 148-1 and 148-2 is oriented about horizontally, but with itsends curved slightly upward. And, overall each of the bottom structuralsupport members 148-1 and 148-2 has a cross-sectional area that issubstantially uniform along its length.

In the front portion of the structural support frame 140, the left endof the top structural support member 144-1 is joined to the upper end ofthe middle structural support member 146-1; the lower end of the middlestructural support member 146-1 is joined to the left end of the bottomstructural support member 148-1; the right end of the bottom structuralsupport member 148-1 is joined to the lower end of the middle structuralsupport member 146-2; and the upper end of the middle structural supportmember 146-2 is joined to the right end of the top structural supportmember 144-1. Similarly, in the back portion of the structural supportframe 140, the left end of the top structural support member 144-2 isjoined to the upper end of the middle structural support member 146-4;the lower end of the middle structural support member 146-4 is joined tothe left end of the bottom structural support member 148-2; the rightend of the bottom structural support member 148-2 is joined to the lowerend of the middle structural support member 146-3; and the upper end ofthe middle structural support member 146-3 is joined to the right end ofthe top structural support member 144-2. In the structural support frame140, the ends of the structural support members, which are joinedtogether, are directly connected, all around the periphery of theirwalls. However, in various alternative embodiments, any of thestructural support members 144-1, 144-2, 146-1, 146-2, 146-3, 146-4,148-1, and 148-2 can be joined together in any way described herein orknown in the art.

In alternative embodiments of the structural support frame 140, adjacentstructural support members can be combined into a single structuralsupport member, wherein the combined structural support member caneffectively substitute for the adjacent structural support members, astheir functions and connections are described herein. In otheralternative embodiments of the structural support frame 140, one or moreadditional structural support members can be added to the structuralsupport members in the structural support frame 140, wherein theexpanded structural support frame can effectively substitute for thestructural support frame 140, as its functions and connections aredescribed herein. Also, in some alternative embodiments, a flexiblecontainer may not include a base structure.

FIG. 1B illustrates a side view of the stand up flexible container 100of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C illustrates a top view of the stand up flexible container 100 ofFIG. 1A.

FIG. 1D illustrates a bottom view of the stand up flexible container 100of FIG. 1A.

FIGS. 2A-8D illustrate embodiments of stand up flexible containershaving various overall shapes. Any of the embodiments of FIGS. 2A-8D canbe configured according to any of the embodiments disclosed herein,including the embodiments of FIGS. 1A-1D. Any of the elements (e.g.structural support frames, structural support members, panels,dispensers, etc.) of the embodiments of FIGS. 2A-8D, can be configuredaccording to any of the embodiments disclosed herein. While each of theembodiments of FIGS. 2A-8D illustrates a container with one dispenser,in various embodiments, each container can include multiple dispensers,according to any embodiment described herein. FIGS. 2A-8D illustrateexemplary additional/alternate locations for dispenser with phantom lineoutlines. Part, parts, or about all, or approximately all, orsubstantially all, or nearly all, or all of each of the panels in theembodiments of FIGS. 2A-8D is suitable to display any kind of indicia.Each of the side panels in the embodiments of FIGS. 2A-8D is configuredto be a nonstructural panel, overlaying product volume(s) disposedwithin the flexible container, however, in various embodiments, one ormore of any kind of decorative or structural element (such as a rib,protruding from an outer surface) can be joined to part, parts, or aboutall, or approximately all, or substantially all, or nearly all, or allof any of these side panels. For clarity, not all structural details ofthese flexible containers are shown in FIGS. 2A-8D, however any of theembodiments of FIGS. 2A-8D can be configured to include any structure orfeature for flexible containers, disclosed herein. For example, any ofthe embodiments of FIGS. 2A-8D can be configured to include any kind ofbase structure disclosed herein.

FIG. 2A illustrates a front view of a stand up flexible container 200having a structural support frame 240 that has an overall shape like afrustum. In the embodiment of FIG. 2A, the frustum shape is based on afour-sided pyramid, however, in various embodiments, the frustum shapecan be based on a pyramid with a different number of sides, or thefrustum shape can be based on a cone. The support frame 240 is formed bystructural support members disposed along the edges of the frustum shapeand joined together at their ends. The structural support members definea rectangular shaped top panel 280-t, trapezoidal shaped side panels280-1, 280-2, 280-3, and 280-4, and a rectangular shaped bottom panel(not shown). Each of the side panels 280-1, 280-2, 280-3, and 280-4 isabout flat, however in various embodiments, part, parts, or about all,or approximately all, or substantially all, or nearly all, or all of anyof the side panels can be approximately flat, substantially flat, nearlyflat, or completely flat. The container 200 includes a dispenser 260,which is configured to dispense one or more fluent products from one ormore product volumes disposed within the container 200. In theembodiment of FIG. 2A, the dispenser 260 is disposed in the center ofthe top panel 280-t, however, in various alternate embodiments, thedispenser 260 can be disposed anywhere else on the top, sides, orbottom, of the container 200, according to any embodiment described orillustrated herein. FIG. 2B illustrates a front view of the container200 of FIG. 2A, including exemplary additional/alternate locations for adispenser, any of which can also apply to the back of the container.FIG. 2C illustrates a side view of the container 200 of FIG. 2A,including exemplary additional/alternate locations for a dispenser(shown as phantom lines), any of which can apply to either side of thecontainer. FIG. 2D illustrates an isometric view of the container 200 ofFIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A illustrates a front view of a stand up flexible container 300having a structural support frame 340 that has an overall shape like apyramid. In the embodiment of FIG. 3A, the pyramid shape is based on afour-sided pyramid, however, in various embodiments, the pyramid shapecan be based on a pyramid with a different number of sides. The supportframe 340 is formed by structural support members disposed along theedges of the pyramid shape and joined together at their ends. Thestructural support members define triangular shaped side panels 380-1,380-2, 380-3, and 380-4, and a square shaped bottom panel (not shown).Each of the side panels 380-1, 380-2, 380-3, and 380-4 is about flat,however in various embodiments, part, parts, or about all, orapproximately all, or substantially all, or nearly all, or all of any ofthe side panels can be approximately flat, substantially flat, nearlyflat, or completely flat. The container 300 includes a dispenser 360,which is configured to dispense one or more fluent products from one ormore product volumes disposed within the container 300. In theembodiment of FIG. 3A, the dispenser 360 is disposed at the apex of thepyramid shape, however, in various alternate embodiments, the dispenser360 can be disposed anywhere else on the top, sides, or bottom, of thecontainer 300. FIG. 3B illustrates a front view of the container 300 ofFIG. 3A, including exemplary additional/alternate locations for adispenser (shown as phantom lines), any of which can also apply to anyside of the container. FIG. 3C illustrates a side view of the container300 of FIG. 3A. FIG. 3D illustrates an isometric view of the container300 of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A illustrates a front view of a stand up flexible container 400having a structural support frame 440 that has an overall shape like atrigonal prism. In the embodiment of FIG. 4A, the prism shape is basedon a triangle. The support frame 440 is formed by structural supportmembers disposed along the edges of the prism shape and joined togetherat their ends. The structural support members define a triangular shapedtop panel 480-t, rectangular shaped side panels 480-1, 480-2, and 480-3,and a triangular shaped bottom panel (not shown). Each of the sidepanels 480-1, 480-2, and 480-3 is about flat, however in variousembodiments, part, parts, or about all, or approximately all, orsubstantially all, or nearly all, or all of the side panels can beapproximately flat, substantially flat, nearly flat, or completely flat.The container 400 includes a dispenser 460, which is configured todispense one or more fluent products from one or more product volumesdisposed within the container 400. In the embodiment of FIG. 4A, thedispenser 460 is disposed in the center of the top panel 480-t, however,in various alternate embodiments, the dispenser 460 can be disposedanywhere else on the top, sides, or bottom, of the container 400. FIG.4B illustrates a front view of the container 400 of FIG. 4A, includingexemplary additional/alternate locations for a dispenser (shown asphantom lines), any of which can also apply to any side of the container400. FIG. 4C illustrates a side view of the container 400 of FIG. 4A.FIG. 4D illustrates an isometric view of the container 400 of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5A illustrates a front view of a stand up flexible container 500having a structural support frame 540 that has an overall shape like atetragonal prism. In the embodiment of FIG. 5A, the prism shape is basedon a square. The support frame 540 is formed by structural supportmembers disposed along the edges of the prism shape and joined togetherat their ends. The structural support members define a square shaped toppanel 580-t, rectangular shaped side panels 580-1, 580-2, 580-3, and580-4, and a square shaped bottom panel (not shown). Each of the sidepanels 580-1, 580-2, 580-3, and 580-4 is about flat, however in variousembodiments, part, parts, or about all, or approximately all, orsubstantially all, or nearly all, or all of any of the side panels canbe approximately flat, substantially flat, nearly flat, or completelyflat. The container 500 includes a dispenser 560, which is configured todispense one or more fluent products from one or more product volumesdisposed within the container 500. In the embodiment of FIG. 5A, thedispenser 560 is disposed in the center of the top panel 580-t, however,in various alternate embodiments, the dispenser 560 can be disposedanywhere else on the top, sides, or bottom, of the container 500. FIG.5B illustrates a front view of the container 500 of FIG. 5A, includingexemplary additional/alternate locations for a dispenser (shown asphantom lines), any of which can also apply to any side of the container500. FIG. 5C illustrates a side view of the container 500 of FIG. 5A.FIG. 5D illustrates an isometric view of the container 500 of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6A illustrates a front view of a stand up flexible container 600having a structural support frame 640 that has an overall shape like apentagonal prism. In the embodiment of FIG. 6A, the prism shape is basedon a pentagon. The support frame 640 is formed by structural supportmembers disposed along the edges of the prism shape and joined togetherat their ends. The structural support members define a pentagon shapedtop panel 680-t, rectangular shaped side panels 680-1, 680-2, 680-3,680-4, and 680-5, and a pentagon shaped bottom panel (not shown). Eachof the side panels 680-1, 680-2, 680-3, 680-4, and 680-5 is about flat,however in various embodiments, part, parts, or about all, orapproximately all, or substantially all, or nearly all, or all of any ofthe side panels can be approximately flat, substantially flat, nearlyflat, or completely flat. The container 600 includes a dispenser 660,which is configured to dispense one or more fluent products from one ormore product volumes disposed within the container 600. In theembodiment of FIG. 6A, the dispenser 660 is disposed in the center ofthe top panel 680-t, however, in various alternate embodiments, thedispenser 660 can be disposed anywhere else on the top, sides, orbottom, of the container 600. FIG. 6B illustrates a front view of thecontainer 600 of FIG. 6A, including exemplary additional/alternatelocations for a dispenser (shown as phantom lines), any of which canalso apply to any side of the container 600. FIG. 6C illustrates a sideview of the container 600 of FIG. 6A. FIG. 6D illustrates an isometricview of the container 600 of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7A illustrates a front view of a stand up flexible container 700having a structural support frame 740 that has an overall shape like acone. The support frame 740 is formed by curved structural supportmembers disposed around the base of the cone and by straight structuralsupport members extending linearly from the base to the apex, whereinthe structural support members are joined together at their ends. Thestructural support members define curved somewhat triangular shaped sidepanels 780-1, 780-2, and 780-3, and a circular shaped bottom panel (notshown). Each of the side panels 780-1, 780-2, and 780-3, is curved,however in various embodiments, part, parts, or about all, orapproximately all, or substantially all, or nearly all, or all of any ofthe side panels can be approximately flat, substantially flat, nearlyflat, or completely flat. The container 700 includes a dispenser 760,which is configured to dispense one or more fluent products from one ormore product volumes disposed within the container 700. In theembodiment of FIG. 7A, the dispenser 760 is disposed at the apex of theconical shape, however, in various alternate embodiments, the dispenser760 can be disposed anywhere else on the top, sides, or bottom, of thecontainer 700. FIG. 7B illustrates a front view of the container 700 ofFIG. 7A. FIG. 7C illustrates a side view of the container 700 of FIG.7A, including exemplary additional/alternate locations for a dispenser(shown as phantom lines), any of which can also apply to any side panelof the container 700. FIG. 7D illustrates an isometric view of thecontainer 700 of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8A illustrates a front view of a stand up flexible container 800having a structural support frame 840 that has an overall shape like acylinder. The support frame 840 is formed by curved structural supportmembers disposed around the top and bottom of the cylinder and bystraight structural support members extending linearly from the top tothe bottom, wherein the structural support members are joined togetherat their ends. The structural support members define a circular shapedtop panel 880-t, curved somewhat rectangular shaped side panels 880-1,880-2, 880-3, and 880-4, and a circular shaped bottom panel (not shown).Each of the side panels 880-1, 880-2, 880-3, and 880-4, is curved,however in various embodiments, part, parts, or about all, orapproximately all, or substantially all, or nearly all, or all of any ofthe side panels can be approximately flat, substantially flat, nearlyflat, or completely flat. The container 800 includes a dispenser 860,which is configured to dispense one or more fluent products from one ormore product volumes disposed within the container 800. In theembodiment of FIG. 8A, the dispenser 860 is disposed in the center ofthe top panel 880-t, however, in various alternate embodiments, thedispenser 860 can be disposed anywhere else on the top, sides, orbottom, of the container 800. FIG. 8B illustrates a front view of thecontainer 800 of FIG. 8A, including exemplary additional/alternatelocations for a dispenser (shown as phantom lines), any of which canalso apply to any side panel of the container 800. FIG. 8C illustrates aside view of the container 800 of FIG. 8A. FIG. 8D illustrates anisometric view of the container 800 of FIG. 8A.

In additional embodiments, any stand up flexible container with astructural support frame, as disclosed herein, can be configured to havean overall shape that corresponds with any other known three-dimensionalshape, including any kind of polyhedron, any kind of prismatoid, and anykind of prism (including right prisms and uniform prisms).

FIG. 9A illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a self-supportingflexible container 900, having an overall shape like a square. FIG. 9Billustrates an end view of the flexible container 900 of FIG. 9A. Thecontainer 900 is resting on a horizontal support surface 901.

In FIG. 9B, a coordinate system 910, provides lines of reference forreferring to directions in the figure. The coordinate system 910 is athree-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system, with an X-axis, a Y-axis,and a Z-axis. The X-axis and the Z-axis are parallel with the horizontalsupport surface 901 and the Y-axis is perpendicular to the horizontalsupport surface 901.

FIG. 9A also includes other lines of reference, for referring todirections and locations with respect to the container 100. A lateralcenterline 911 runs parallel to the X-axis. An XY plane at the lateralcenterline 911 separates the container 100 into a front half and a backhalf. An XZ plane at the lateral centerline 911 separates the container100 into an upper half and a lower half. A longitudinal centerline 914runs parallel to the Y-axis. A YZ plane at the longitudinal centerline914 separates the container 900 into a left half and a right half. Athird centerline 917 runs parallel to the Z-axis. The lateral centerline911, the longitudinal centerline 914, and the third centerline 917 allintersect at a center of the container 900. These terms for direction,orientation, measurement, and disposition, in the embodiment of FIGS.9A-9B are the same as the like-numbered terms in the embodiment of FIGS.1A-1D.

The container 900 includes a top 904, a middle 906, and a bottom 908,the front 902-1, the back 902-2, and left and right sides 909. In theembodiment of FIGS. 9A-9B, the upper half and the lower half of thecontainer are joined together at a seal 929, which extends around theouter periphery of the container 900. The bottom of the container 900 isconfigured in the same way as the top of the container 900.

The container 900 includes a structural support frame 940, a productvolume 950, a dispenser 960, a top panel 980-t and a bottom panel (notshown). A portion of the top panel 980-t is illustrated as broken away,in order to show the product volume 950. The product volume 950 isconfigured to contain one or more fluent products. The dispenser 960allows the container 900 to dispense these fluent product(s) from theproduct volume 950 through a flow channel 959 then through the dispenser960, to the environment outside of the container 900. The structuralsupport frame 940 supports the mass of fluent product(s) in the productvolume 950. The top panel 980-t and the bottom panel are relatively flatsurfaces, overlaying the product volume 950, and are suitable fordisplaying any kind of indicia.

The structural support frame 940 is formed by a plurality of structuralsupport members. The structural support frame 940 includes frontstructural support members 943-1 and 943-2, intermediate structuralsupport members 945-1, 945-2, 945-3, and 945-4, as well as backstructural support members 947-1 and 947-2. Overall, each of thestructural support members in the container 900 is orientedhorizontally. And, each of the structural support members in thecontainer 900 has a cross-sectional area that is substantially uniformalong its length, although in various embodiments, this cross-sectionalarea can vary.

Upper structural support members 943-1, 945-1, 945-2, and 947-1 aredisposed in an upper part of the middle 906 and in the top 904, whilelower structural support members 943-2, 945-4, 945-3, and 947-2 aredisposed in a lower part of the middle 906 and in the bottom 908. Theupper structural support members 943-1, 945-1, 945-2, and 947-1 aredisposed above and adjacent to the lower structural support members943-2, 945-4, 945-3, and 947-2, respectively.

In various embodiments, adjacent upper and lower structural supportmembers can be in contact with each other at one or more relativelysmaller locations and/or at one or more relatively larger locations,along part, or parts, or about all, or approximately all, orsubstantially all, or nearly all, or all of their overall lengths, solong as there is a gap in the contact for the flow channel 959, betweenthe structural support members 943-1 and 943-2. In the embodiment ofFIGS. 9A-9B, the upper and lower structural support members are notdirectly connected to each other. However, in various alternateembodiments, adjacent upper and lower structural support members can bedirectly connected and/or joined together along part, or parts, or aboutall, or approximately all, or substantially all, or nearly all, or allof their overall lengths.

The ends of structural support members 943-1, 945-2, 947-1, and 945-1are joined together to form a top square that is outward from andsurrounding the product volume 950, and the ends of structural supportmembers 943-2, 945-3, 947-2, and 945-4 are also joined together to forma bottom square that is outward from and surrounding the product volume950. In the structural support frame 940, the ends of the structuralsupport members, which are joined together, are directly connected, allaround the periphery of their walls. However, in various alternativeembodiments, any of the structural support members of the embodiment ofFIGS. 9A-9B can be joined together in any way described herein or knownin the art.

In alternative embodiments of the structural support frame 940, adjacentstructural support members can be combined into a single structuralsupport member, wherein the combined structural support member caneffectively substitute for the adjacent structural support members, astheir functions and connections are described herein. In otheralternative embodiments of the structural support frame 940, one or moreadditional structural support members can be added to the structuralsupport members in the structural support frame 940, wherein theexpanded structural support frame can effectively substitute for thestructural support frame 940, as its functions and connections aredescribed herein.

FIGS. 10A-11B illustrate embodiments of self-supporting flexiblecontainers (that are not stand up containers) having various overallshapes. Any of the embodiments of FIGS. 10A-11B can be configuredaccording to any of the embodiments disclosed herein, including theembodiments of FIGS. 9A-9B. Any of the elements (e.g. structural supportframes, structural support members, panels, dispensers, etc.) of theembodiments of FIGS. 10A-11B, can be configured according to any of theembodiments disclosed herein. While each of the embodiments of FIGS.10A-11B illustrates a container with one dispenser, in variousembodiments, each container can include multiple dispensers, accordingto any embodiment described herein. Part, parts, or about all, orapproximately all, or substantially all, or nearly all, or all of eachof the panels in the embodiments of FIGS. 10A-11B is suitable to displayany kind of indicia. Each of the top and bottom panels in theembodiments of FIGS. 10A-11B is configured to be a nonstructural panel,overlaying product volume(s) disposed within the flexible container,however, in various embodiments, one or more of any kind of decorativeor structural element (such as a rib, protruding from an outer surface)can be joined to part, parts, or about all, or approximately all, orsubstantially all, or nearly all, or all of any of these panels. Forclarity, not all structural details of these flexible containers areshown in FIGS. 10A-11B, however any of the embodiments of FIGS. 10A-11Bcan be configured to include any structure or feature for flexiblecontainers, disclosed herein.

FIG. 10A illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a self-supportingflexible container 1000 (that is not a stand up flexible container)having a product volume 1050 and an overall shape like a triangle.However, in various embodiments, a self-supporting flexible containercan have an overall shape like a polygon having any number of sides. Thesupport frame 1040 is formed by structural support members disposedalong the edges of the triangular shape and joined together at theirends. The structural support members define a triangular shaped toppanel 1080-t, and a triangular shaped bottom panel (not shown). The toppanel 1080-t and the bottom panel are about flat, however in variousembodiments, part, parts, or about all, or approximately all, orsubstantially all, or nearly all, or all of any of the side panels canbe approximately flat, substantially flat, nearly flat, or completelyflat. The container 1000 includes a dispenser 1060, which is configuredto dispense one or more fluent products from one or more product volumesdisposed within the container 1000. In the embodiment of FIG. 10A, thedispenser 1060 is disposed in the center of the front, however, invarious alternate embodiments, the dispenser 1060 can be disposedanywhere else on the top, sides, or bottom, of the container 1000. FIG.10A includes exemplary additional/alternate locations for a dispenser(shown as phantom lines). FIG. 10B illustrates an end view of theflexible container 1000 of FIG. 10B, resting on a horizontal supportsurface 1001.

FIG. 11A illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a self-supportingflexible container 1100 (that is not a stand up flexible container)having a product volume 1150 and an overall shape like a circle. Thesupport frame 1140 is formed by structural support members disposedaround the circumference of the circular shape and joined together attheir ends. The structural support members define a circular shaped toppanel 1180-t, and a circular shaped bottom panel (not shown). The toppanel 1180-t and the bottom panel are about flat, however in variousembodiments, part, parts, or about all, or approximately all, orsubstantially all, or nearly all, or all of any of the side panels canbe approximately flat, substantially flat, nearly flat, or completelyflat. The container 1100 includes a dispenser 1160, which is configuredto dispense one or more fluent products from one or more product volumesdisposed within the container 1100. In the embodiment of FIG. 11A, thedispenser 1160 is disposed in the center of the front, however, invarious alternate embodiments, the dispenser 1160 can be disposedanywhere else on the top, sides, or bottom, of the container 1100. FIG.11A includes exemplary additional/alternate locations for a dispenser(shown as phantom lines). FIG. 11B illustrates an end view of theflexible container 1100 of FIG. 10B, resting on a horizontal supportsurface 1101.

In additional embodiments, any self-supporting container with astructural support frame, as disclosed herein, can be configured to havean overall shape that corresponds with any other known three-dimensionalshape. For example, any self-supporting container with a structuralsupport frame, as disclosed herein, can be configured to have an overallshape (when observed from a top view) that corresponds with a rectangle,a polygon (having any number of sides), an oval, an ellipse, a star, orany other shape, or combinations of any of these.

FIGS. 12A-14C illustrate various exemplary dispensers, which can be usedwith the flexible containers disclosed herein. FIG. 12A illustrates anisometric view of push-pull type dispenser 1260-a. FIG. 12B illustratesan isometric view of dispenser with a flip-top cap 1260-b. FIG. 12Cillustrates an isometric view of dispenser with a screw-on cap 1260-c.FIG. 12D illustrates an isometric view of rotatable type dispenser1260-d. FIG. 12E illustrates an isometric view of nozzle type dispenserwith a cap 1260-d. FIG. 13A illustrates an isometric view of strawdispenser 1360-a. FIG. 13B illustrates an isometric view of strawdispenser with a lid 1360-b. FIG. 13C illustrates an isometric view offlip up straw dispenser 1360-c. FIG. 13D illustrates an isometric viewof straw dispenser with bite valve 1360-d. FIG. 14A illustrates anisometric view of pump type dispenser 1460-a, which can, in variousembodiments be a foaming pump type dispenser. FIG. 14B illustrates anisometric view of pump spray type dispenser 1460-b. FIG. 14C illustratesan isometric view of trigger spray type dispenser 1460-c.

Referring to FIG. 15A, a flexible material 2000 for a flexible containercan include first and second laminates 2010, 2012, with at least aportion of the second laminate 2012 being joined to at least a portionof the first laminate 2010 by at least one seal 2040. As describedabove, a flexible container can include a structural support volume anda product volume. As illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 21, the flexiblematerial 2000 for a flexible container includes a structural supportvolume forming region 2036 corresponding to the portion of the materialfor forming the structural support volume of the container and a productvolume forming region 2038 corresponding to the portion of the materialforming the product volume of the container. As described in detailbelow, the structural support volume is provided between the first andsecond laminate 2010, 2012, while the product volume is provided betweenfaces of a sealable layer 2014-1, 2014-2 of the flexible material 2000(as shown in FIG. 20) or between sealable layers 2014-1, 20142 of twoflexible material sheets 2000-1, 2000-2 each having first and secondlaminates (as shown in FIG. 21). In an embodiment, the flexible material2000 includes the first and second laminates 2010, 2012 only in thestructural support volume forming region. In such embodiments, theflexible material 2000 can include a flexible sheet material, forexample, a single layer, a single laminate, in the product volumeforming region, which is different that the flexible material in thestructural support volume region. For example, the flexible sheetmaterial of the product volume forming region may include onlynon-sealable layers. In other embodiments, the flexible material 2000includes the first and second laminates 2010, 2012 in both thestructural support volume forming region and the product volume formingregion.

Referring again to FIG. 15A, the first laminate 2010 can include a firstgas barrier layer 2020 disposed between and directly or indirectlyconnected to first and second sealant layers 2014 and 2016. The firstand second sealant layers define opposed exterior layers of the firstlaminate 2010.

The second laminate 2012 can include a second gas barrier layer 2022directly or indirectly connected to a third sealant layer 2018. Thethird sealant layer defines an exterior layer of the second laminate2012. In various embodiments, the second laminate 2012 only includes asingle sealable layer as an exterior layer. For example, as illustratedin FIG. 15B, the second laminate 2012 can include the third sealablelayer 2018 as one exterior layer and a print layer or other non-sealablelayer as the opposed exterior layer. In such embodiments, the secondlaminate 2012 can include one or more additional sealant layers disposedin the interior of the second laminate 2012 such that the one or moreadditional sealant layers are not an exterior layer.

Referring again to FIG. 15B, the first and second laminates 2010, 2012can further include one or more additional layers such as additionalsealant layers, additional gas barrier layers, reinforcing layers, tielayers, print layers, liquid barrier layers or coatings, andcombinations thererof. For example, in one embodiment, the secondlaminate 2012 can include a print layer 2028 defining an exterior layerof the second laminate 2012, opposite the third sealant layer 2018. Inanother embodiment, one or both of the first and second laminates 2010,2012 include one or more reinforcing layers 2024 and/or tie layers 2026.Any of the layers of the laminates can be provided either as a singlelayer or as a multi-structure layer having the same or differentcompositions in the individual layers of the multi-structure layer,including, for example, nano- and micro-layered structures. Themulti-structure layer also need not have the layers performing the samefunction in direct contact, other layers can be interposed betweenlayers of the multi-structure layer. For example, a reinforcing layerand a gas barrier layer can be provided as a multi-layer structurehaving the reinforcing layers interchangeable layered with the gasbarrier layers.

In various embodiments, the first and/or second laminate 2010, 2012 caninclude a liquid barrier layer disposed within the laminate such thatthe liquid barrier layer is not an exterior layer of the laminate. Thefirst and/or second laminate 2010, 2012 can additionally oralternatively include a liquid barrier coating disposed on one or moreof the layers.

In various embodiments, the first and second laminates 2010, 2012 can beof a different construction. For example, the first and second laminatescan have a different number of layers and/or different types of layers.For example, in one embodiment the first laminate 2010 includes sealablelayers as the opposed exterior layers of the laminate, while the secondlaminate 2012 includes a sealable layer as only one exterior layer and anon-sealable layer, such as a print layer, as the opposed exteriorlayer. In another example, the first laminate can comprise a liquidbarrier layer to retain moisture in a fluent product while the secondlaminate has no liquid barrier layer.

The flexible materials 2000 in accordance with embodiments of thedisclosure have a seal strength and a lamination strength that allow theflexible material 2000 and seals to be maintained without separation ordelamination when the structural support volume of the flexiblecontainer is expanded. As described above, for example, the layers ofthe first and second laminates 2010, 2012, can be arranged to havechemically similar or reactive layers in direct contact, and/or caninclude tie or adhesive layers, with selection of the composition of thetie or adhesive layer, such that the lamination strength between each ofthe layers of the laminate is about 2 N/m to about 10,000 N/m, Othersuitable lamination strengths are disclosed above. For example, thesealable layers are selected such that the seal between the secondsealable layer 2016 and the third sealable layer 2018 has a sealstrength of about 20 N/m to about 10,000 N/m. Other suitable sealstrengths are disclosed above.

In various embodiments, the flexible material 2000 has a thermalconductivity of about 0.02 W/m·K to about 300 W/m·K measured at 300 Kand the first, second, and third sealable layers 2014, 2016, 2018 have amelting point of about 90° C. to about 350° C., about 0.05 W/m·K toabout 6 W/m·K measured at 300 K and the first, second, and thirdsealable layers 2014, 2016, 2018 have a melting point of about 100° C.to about 260° C., or about 0.1 W/m·K to about 1 W/m·K measured at 300 Kand the first, second, and third sealable layers 2014, 2016, 2018 have amelting point of about 110° C. to about 200° C.

In various embodiments, the flexible material 2000 has a gastransmission rate in at least the structural support volume formingregion of about 0.05 cc/m²·day·atm to about 18 cc/m²·day·atm, about 0.05cc/m²·day·atm to about 3 cc/m²·day·atm, or about 0.05 cc/m²·day·atm toabout 1 cc/m²·day·atm. Other suitable gas transmission rates includeabout 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,16, 17, or 18 cc/m²·day·atm any range formed by a combination of thesevalues.

The flexible materials 2000 of the disclosure when formed into aflexible container are stable and able to withstand various stressesduring their distribution through the supply chain and into consumer'shomes. The flexible materials 2000 of the disclosure are capable ofwithstanding variations in temperature from about 0° C. to about 35° C.The flexible containers remain stable against pressure variations due toshipment through different altitudes. At sea level, atmosphericpressures are approximately 101325 Pa. At the highest shipment point inthe US, atmospheric pressure is approximately 65000 Pa. The differentialpressure experienced by the flexible containers during shipment can leadto stresses on the container and on the flexible material 2000. Theflexible materials of the disclosure advantageously resist deformationunder an applied load. For example, the flexible materials can exhibit acreep of 0% to 70% over a period of 1 month, or 0% to about 20% over aperiod of 1.5 years, or about 0% to about 8% over a period of 3 years,as measured using ASTM 2990-09 in which samples are cut into 25.4 mmwidth strips, about 200 mm long, and a 50.8 mm gate length, and a stressof 5 MPa is applied in about 1 sec and maintained at the stress at 23°C. for a specified time. The extension of the sample is monitored bygrip displacement.

Referring again to FIG. 15B, in one embodiment, the first laminate 2010includes a first sealable layer 2014 connected to a first reinforcinglayer 2024-1 by a first tie layer 2026-1, a first gas barrier layer 2020directly connected to the first reinforcing layer 2024-1, a secondreinforcing layer 2024-2 directly connected to the first gas barrierlayer 2020, and connected to a second sealable layer 2016 by a secondtie layer 2026-1. The first and second sealable layers 2014, 2016 caninclude multiple layers of sealable material. For example, the first andsecond sealable layers can each include a first sealable material 2014a, 2016 a, such as mLLDPE layered on a second sealable material 2014 b,2016 b, such as a blend of LLDPE and LDPE. The first and second tielayers 2026-1, 2026-2 can be MA-LDPE. The first and second reinforcinglayers 2016-1, 2016-2 can be nylon. The first gas barrier layer 2020 canbe EVOH.

The second laminate 2012 can include, in an embodiment, a third sealantlayer 2018 connected to a first reinforcing layer 2024-1 by a first tielayer 2026-1, a second gas barrier layer 2022 directly connected to andbetween first and second reinforcing layers 2024-1, 2024-2, and a secondtie layer or adhesive layer 2026-2 connecting a print layer 2028 to thesecond reinforcing layer 2024-2. The third sealable layer 2018 caninclude a first sealable material 2018 a such as mLLDPE, layered on asecond sealable material 2018 b, such as a blend of LLDPE and LDPE. Thesecond gas barrier layer 2022 can be EVOH. The first and secondreinforcing layers 2024-1, 2024-2 can be nylon.

The first laminate 2010 can be joined to the second laminate 2012 by atleast one seal 2040. For example, the at least one seal can join thefirst sealable layer 2014 or the second sealable layer 2016 of the firstlaminate 2010 the third sealable layer 2018 of the second laminate 2012.For ease of reference throughout the disclosure, reference will be madeto joining of the second sealable layer 2016 to the third sealable layer2018, with the first sealable layer 2014 defining an exterior layer ofthe flexible material 2000. It should be understood that either of thefirst sealable layer 2014 or the second sealable layer 2016 can bejoined to the third sealable layer 2018 by the at least one seal withthe other one of the first sealable 2014 or the second sealable 2016layer defining the exterior layer of the flexible material 2000.

Referring to FIG. 16, the flexible material 2000 can include at leastone first seal 2040 that joins a portion of the first laminate 2010 to aportion of the second laminate 2012. The at least one first seal 2040can define at least one boundary 2048 of the structural support volumeof the flexible container formed from the flexible material 2000. The atleast one first seal 2040 joins a portion of the first sealable layer2014 of the first laminate 2010 to a portion of the third sealable layer2018 of the second laminate 2012. For example, the at least one firstseal 2040 at least partially defines an inner boundary of a structuralsupport volume from the perspective of the container center. Thestructural support volume is provided between the first and secondlaminates 2010, 2012.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, the flexible material 2000 can include afirst region 2030, a second region 2032, and a fold region 2034. Thefirst and second regions 2030, 2032 can each include at least one firstseal 2040-1, 2040, 2 defining at least partially at least one boundary2048-1, 2048-2 of a structural support volume to be formed in the firstand second regions 2030, 2032. One or more first seals 2040 can beformed to define a boundary 2048 of a structural support volume. Forexample, in some embodiments, such as illustrated in FIG. 1, themultiple structural support volumes can be included in the flexiblecontainer. In such embodiments, multiple first seals 2040 can be formedin the flexible material 2000, each defining at least one boundary 2048of one of the structural support volumes. In various embodiments, theflexible material 2000 can include first and second regions 2030, 2032with a structural support volume being provided in only one of the firstor second regions 2030, 2032.

FIG. 16 illustrates an embodiment in which the at least one first seal2040 is provided in the first and second regions 2030, 2032 as mirrorimages and are aligned when the flexible material 2000 is folded along aline 2046 in the fold region 2034. In alternative embodiments, the firstseals 2040-1, 2040-2 of the first and second regions 2030, 2032 can bearranged such that they at least partially overlap, but are notnecessarily minor images and/or not necessarily completely aligned whenthe flexible material 2000 is folded along a line 2046.

Referring to FIG. 17, in yet another embodiment, at least one secondseal 2042 can extend between the first and second regions 2030, 2032 todefine at least one additional boundary 2050 of the structural supportvolume in both the first and second regions 2030, 2032. While FIG. 17illustrates an embodiment in which the at least one second seal 2042 issymmetrical across a line 2046 between the first and second regions2030, 2032, it is contemplated that the portion of the second seal 2042in the first region 2030 can be non-symmetrical with the portion of thesecond seal 2042 in the second region 2032. The second seal 2042 in thefirst region 2030 at least partially overlaps with a portion of thesecond seal 2042 in the second region 2032 when the flexible material2000 is folded about a line 2046.

Referring to FIG. 18, in some embodiments, the flexible material 2000can further include at least one second seal 2042 that joins a portionof the first sealable layer 2014 to a portion of the third sealablelayer 2018 and defines at least one additional boundary 2050 of thestructural support volume. For example, the at least one second seal2042 can define an outer boundary of the structural support volume,while the at least one first seal 2040 can define an inner boundary ofthe structural support volume, from the perspective of the containercenter. As described above with respect to the at least one first seal,the flexible material 2000 can include at least one second seal 2042-1,2042,-2 disposed in each of first and second regions 2030, 2032 of theflexible material 2000, as illustrated in FIG. 18. FIG. 18 illustratesan embodiment in which the second seals 2042-1, 2042-2 in the first andsecond regions 2030, 2032 are minor images and are aligned to completelyoverlap when the flexible material 2000 is folded along a line 2046

In various embodiments, a container blank can be formed from theflexible material 2000 having at least one first seal 2040 andoptionally at least on second seal 2042 formed in the flexible sheet. Inone embodiment, the container blank is formed from a single sheet offlexible material 2000. For example, referring to FIG. 20, the flexiblematerial 2000 can include first and second regions 2030, 2032 with atleast one first seal 2040 formed in first and second regions 2030, 2032.The flexible material 2000 can be folded long a line 2046, or multiplelines as illustrated in FIG. 20, such that the first sealable layer 2014of the first region 2030 is brought into contact with the first sealablelayer 2014 of the second region 2032. At least one third seal (notshown) can be formed in the flexible sheet joining the first sealablelayer 2014 of the first region 2030 to the first sealable layer 2014 ofthe second region 2032 to define at least one boundary 2052 of theproduct volume.

Referring to FIG. 21, the container blank can be formed from two or moresheets of flexible material 2000-1, 2000-2. FIG. 19 illustrates firstand second flexible material sheets 2000-1 and 2000-2. For example, thecontainer blank can be formed by bring the first sealable layer 2014-1of the first flexible material 2000-1 into contact with the firstsealable layer 2014-2 of the second flexible material 2000-1 with the atleast one third seal joining the first sealable layer 2014-1 of thefirst flexible material 2000 to the first sealable layer 2014-2 of thesecond flexible material 2000-2. One or more additional sheets offlexible material 2000 or other film materials can be further includedin forming the container blank, for example, such as forming a gussetregion. As described, above, the flexible material sheets 2000-1 and2000-2 can each further include at least one second seal 2042-1, 2042-2,defining at least one additional boundary 2050-1, 2050-2 of thestructure supporting volume in each of the first and second flexiblematerial sheets 2000-1, 2000-2.

In some embodiments, for example, where the flexible material(s) 2000have only the a first seal 2040 defining at least one boundary 2048 ofthe structural support volume (as shown in FIG. 16), the at least onethird seal 2044 can also define at least one additional boundary 2050 ofthe structural support volume as well as at least one boundary of theproduct volume. In other embodiments, for example, where the flexiblematerial 2000 has first and second seals 2040, 2042 (as shown in FIG.18), the at least one third seal 2044 can be formed over at least a partof the at least one second seal 2042 to define the at least one boundaryof the product volume. In some embodiments, the at least one third seal2044 can completely overlap with the at least one second seal 2042. Insome embodiments, the at least one third seal 2044 does not overlap withthe first or second seals 2040, 2042.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the first, second, and/or thirdseals can be formed to have a small opening or gap to allow for thestructural support volumes and/or the product volume to be filled withthe desired expansion material (in the structural support volume) orproduct (in the product volume). One or more additional seals can beformed after filling the respective volumes of the container duringformation of the container.

As described above, the flexible container includes a structural supportvolume that in some embodiments may be expanded and may be pressurizedwith a gas. The flexible material 2000 in accordance with embodiments ofthe disclosure can provide a gas barrier in at least the structuralsupport volume to ensure that sufficient pressurization is maintained inthe structural support volume over the shelf-life of the flexiblecontainer. For example, a container can have a structural support volumepressured to a gauge pressure of about 41,300 Pa to about 55,140 Pa, andthe flexible material 2000 in at least the structural support volume canprovide a sufficient barrier to gas transmission such that thestructural support volume losses less than about 6890 Pa to about 20,678Pa in about one month, in about six months, in about one year, or inabout two years.

To further improve the structural properties of the flexible material2000, the flexible container can be treated to cross-link one or morelayer of the laminates of the flexible material 2000. For example, theflexible container can be exposed to electron beam radiation tocross-link one or more layers of the laminates.

EXAMPLES

In the following examples, creep was measured in accordance with ASTM2990-09. Samples are cut into 25.4 mm width strips, about 200 mm long,and a 50.8 mm gate length used. A stress of 5 MPa in about 1 sec wasapplied and the stress was maintained at 23° C. for a specified time.The extension of the sample was monitored by grip displacement.

The tensile properties of the material were measured in accordance withASTM D882-12 using a 25.4 mm wide film, a gauge length of 50 mm, and acrosshead speed of 5 mm/min.

Mocon oxygen transmission rate was measured using MOCON equipment inaccordance with ASTM F2622-08.

The composition and thickness of the layers of the laminates weremeasured by FTIR, temperature rising elution fractionation (TREF), andSEM analysis.

Example 1

A first laminate having layers ordered as shown below was formed. Thetotal film thickness was about 90 microns. The PE layers were a blend of90% LLDPE(ZN) with 10% LDPE as determined by temperature rising elutionfractionation (TREF).

Composition and Thickness of the Layer Order of the Layers (micron)Function PE 18 Sealable layer Tie layer <2 Tie layer Nylon ~3Reinforcing layer EVOH 6 Gas barrier Nylon ~3 Reinforcing layer EVA 22Tie layer Nylon ~3 Reinforcing layer EVOH 6 Gas barrier Nylon ~3Reinforcing layer Tie layer <2 Tie layer PE 18 Sealable layer

The first laminate had the following properties:

Creep: 5 MPa; 23 C. 0.4% change @ 4 hours Tensile Properties Modulus:870 MPa % strain at yield: 2.5% Stress at yield:  20 MPa OTR MOCON0.0104 cc/100 in² · day

Example 2

A first laminate having layers ordered as shown below was formed. Thetotal film thickness was about 92 microns. The PE layers were 100%LLDPE(ZN) as determined by temperature rising elution fractionation(TREF).

Composition and Order of the Layers Thickness of the Layer Function PE42 μm Sealant layer Tie Layer <2 μm Tie layer Nylon 6 18 μm Gasbarrier/Reinforcing layer Tie Layer <2 μm Tie layer PE 28 μm Sealantlayer

The first laminate had the following properties:

Creep: 5 MPa; 23 C. 1.9% change @ 4 hours Tensile Properties Modulus: 480 MPa % Strain at yield: 3% Stress at yield: 13.5 MPa

Example 3

A first laminate having layers ordered as shown below was formed. Thetotal film thickness was about 80 microns. The PE layers were mostlyLDPE with a small amount of LLDPE(ZN) as determined by temperaturerising elution fractionation (TREF).

Composition and Order of the Layers Thickness of the Layer Function PE32 μm Sealable layer Tie Layer <2 μm Tie layer EVOH 12 μm Gas BarrierTie Layer <2 μm Tie Layer PE 32 μm Sealable Layer

The first laminate had the following properties:

Creep Resistance: 5 MPa; 23C. 0.7% change @ 4 hours Tensile PropertiesModulus: 708 MPa % strain at yield: 2.5% Stress at yield:  15 MPa

Example 4

A second laminate having layers ordered as shown below was formed. Thetotal film thickness was about 66 microns.

Composition and Order of theLayers Thickness of the Layer Function PET 9μm Print layer Adhesive ~3 um Adhesive/Tie layer vm-BOPP 18 μm Gas andwater barrier Adhesive ~3 um Adhesive/Tie layer LLDPE/LDPE Blend 38 μmSealable Layer

The first laminate had the following properties:

Creep: 5 MPa; 23C. 0.4% change @ 4 hours Tensile Properties Modulus:1208 MPa % strain at yield: 2.5% Stress at yield:  25 MPa

Example 5

A first laminate having layers ordered as shown below was formed. Thetotal film thickness was about 91.4 microns. The composition andthickness of the adhesive can be adjusted to achieve the desiredlamination strength.

Composition and Order of the Layers Thickness of the Layer FunctionLLDPE/LDPE Blend 38 μm Sealable layer Adhesive ~3 μm Tie layervm-Biaxially oriented Nylon 18 μm Gas barrier (BON) Adhesive ~3 μm Tielayer LLDPE/LDPE Blend 38 μm Sealable Layer

The first laminate had the following properties:

Creep: 5 MPa; 23 C. 1.3% change @ 4 hours Tensile Properties Modulus:712 MPa % strain at yield: 3% Stress at yield:  15 MPa

Example 6

A second laminate having layers ordered as shown below was formed. Thetotal film thickness was about 91.4 microns. The composition andthickness of the adhesive can be adjusted to achieve the desiredlamination strength. The print layer and the sealable layers wereconfirmed by TREF to have mostly LLDPE (ZN) with a small amount of LDPE.The print layer was rendered printable by corona treating the layer. Thecorona treatment also degrades the sealable of the layer such that thesecond laminate of this example would be considered to have only asingle sealable layer.

Composition and Order of the Layers Thickness of the Layer FunctionLLDPE (ZN)/LDPE Sealant 32.85 μm Print layer (corona treated) Tie layer~3 μm Tie layer Nylon 8.34 μm Reinforcing layer EVOH 40.03 μm Gasbarrier layer Nylon 8.85 μm Reinforcing layer Tie layer ~3 μm Tie layermetallocene LLDPE (ZN)/ 43 μm Sealable Layer LDPE

Example 7

A second laminate having layers ordered as shown below was formed. Thetotal film thickness was about 66 microns. The composition and thicknessof the adhesive can be adjusted to achieve the desired laminationstrength.

Composition and Order of theLayers Thickness of the Layer Function PET 9μm Print layer Adhesive ~3 μm Tie layer vm-BOPP 15 μm Gas barrier layerand liquid barrier layer Adhesive ~3 μm Tie layer LLDPE/LDPE Blend 38 μmSealable Layer

The second laminate had the following properties:

Creep: 5 MPa; 23 C. 0% change @ 4 hours Tensile Properties Modulus: 1330MPa % strain at yield: 3% Stress at yield:  25 MPa

Example 8

A first laminate having layers ordered as shown below has a totallaminate thickness of about 115 microns.

Composition and Order of the Layers Thickness of the Layer FunctionmLLDPE 3 μm Sealable layer LLDPE/LDPE Blend 35 μm Sealable layer MA-LDPE4 μm Tie layer Nylon 8 μm Reinforcing layer EVOH 15 μm Gas barrier layerNylon 8 μm Reinforcing layer MA-LDPE 4 μm Tie Layer LLDPE/LDPE Blend 35μm Sealable layer mLLDPE 3 μm Sealable layer

The second laminate having layers ordered as shown below has a totallaminate thickness of about 126 microns.

Composition and Order of theLayers Thickness of the Layer Function BOPP20 μm Print Layer Ink ~2 μm Ink Adhesive ~3 μm Tie layer LLDPE/LDPEBlend 25 μm Sealable layer MA-LDPE ~4 μm Tie layer Nylon 8 μmReinforcing layer EVOH 15 μm Gas barrier layer Nylon 8 μm Reinforcinglayer MA-LDPE ~4 μm Tie Layer LLDPE/LDPE Blend 35 μm Sealable layermLLDPE 3 μm Sealable layer

Part, parts, or all of any of the embodiments disclosed herein can becombined with part, parts, or all of other embodiments known in the artof flexible containers, including those described below.

Embodiments of the present disclosure can use any and all embodiments ofmaterials, structures, and/or features for flexible containers, as wellas any and all methods of making and/or using such flexible containers,as disclosed in the following US provisional patent applications: (1)application 61/643,813 filed May 7, 2012, entitled “Film BasedContainers” (applicant's case 12464P); (2) application 61/643,823 filedMay 7, 2012, entitled “Film Based Containers” (applicant's case 12465P);(3) application 61/676,042 filed Jul. 26, 2012, entitled “Film BasedContainer Having a Decoration Panel” (applicant's case 12559P); (4)application 61/727,961 filed Nov. 19, 2012, entitled “Containers Madefrom Flexible Material” (applicant's case 12559P2); (5) application61/680,045 filed Aug. 6, 2012, entitled “Methods of Making Film BasedContainers” (applicant's case 12579P); and (6) application 61/780,039filed Mar. 13, 2013, entitled “Flexible Containers with Multiple ProductVolumes” (applicant's case 12785P); and each of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

Part, parts, or all of any of the embodiments disclosed herein also canbe combined with part, parts, or all of other embodiments known in theart of containers for fluent products, so long as those embodiments canbe applied to flexible containers, as disclosed herein. For example, invarious embodiments, a flexible container can include a verticallyoriented transparent strip, disposed on a portion of the container thatoverlays the product volume, and configured to show the level of thefluent product in the product volume.

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood asbeing strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead,unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean boththe recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding thatvalue. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean“about 40 mm”.

Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or relatedpatent or patent publication, is hereby incorporated herein by referencein its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. Thecitation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art withrespect to any document disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, orin any combination with any other reference or references, teaches,suggests or discloses any such embodiment. Further, to the extent thatany meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with anymeaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated byreference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in thisdocument shall govern.

While particular embodiments have been illustrated and described herein,it should be understood that various other changes and modifications maybe made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimedsubject matter. Moreover, although various aspects of the claimedsubject matter have been described herein, such aspects need not beutilized in combination. It is therefore intended that the appendedclaims cover all such changes and modifications that are within thescope of the claimed subject matter.

What is claimed is:
 1. A flexible material for a flexible container, theflexible material comprising: a first laminate comprising a first gasbarrier layer disposed between first and second sealable layers, whereinthe first and second sealable layers define opposed exterior layers ofthe first laminate; and a second laminate joined to at least a portionof the first laminate by at least one seal, the second laminatecomprising a third sealable layer defining an exterior layer of thesecond laminate, and a second gas barrier layer; wherein: the at leastone seal joins a portion of the third sealable layer to at least aportion of the second sealable layer, the at least one seal has a sealstrength of about 20 N/m to about 10,000 N/m, the layers of the firstlaminate have a lamination strength between each adjacent layer of about2 N/m to about 10,000 N/m, and the layers of the second laminate havelamination strength between each adjacent layer of about 2 N/m to about10,000 N/m.
 2. The flexible material of claim 1, wherein the sealbetween the second and third sealable layers has a seal strength ofabout 20 N/m to about 10,000 N/m.
 3. The flexible material of claim 1,wherein the seal between the second and third sealable layers has a sealstrength of about 85 N/m to about 3500 N/m.
 4. The flexible material ofclaim 1, wherein the seal between the second and third sealable layershave a seal strength of about 300 N/m to about 1250 N/m.
 5. The flexiblematerial of claim 1, wherein the layers of the first laminate have alamination strength between each layer of about 4 N/m to about 9,000 N/mand the layers of the second layer have a lamination strength betweeneach layer of about 4 N/m to about 9,000 N/m.
 6. The flexible materialof claim 1, wherein the layers of the first laminate have a laminationstrength between each layer of about 17 N/m to about 3150 N/m and thelayers of the second layer have a lamination strength between each layerof about 17 N/m to about 3150 N/m.
 7. The flexible material of claim 1,wherein the layers of the first laminate have a lamination strengthbetween each layer of about 34 N/m to about 2450 N/m and the layers ofthe second layer have a lamination strength between each layer of about34 N/m to about 2450 N/m.
 8. The flexible material of claim 1, whereinthe layers of the first laminate have a lamination strength between eachlayer of about 60 N/m to about 1200 N/m and the layers of the secondlayer have a lamination strength between each layer of about 60 N/m toabout 1200 N/m.
 9. The flexible material of claim 1, wherein theflexible material has a thermal conductivity of about 0.02 W/m·K toabout 300 W/m·K as measured at 300 K, and the first, second, and thirdsealable layers each have a melting temperature of about 65° C. to about350° C.
 10. The flexible material of claim 1, wherein the flexiblematerial has a thermal conductivity of about 0.05 W/m·K to about 6 W/m·Kas measured at 300 K, and the first, second, and third sealable layerseach have a melting temperature of about 100° C. to about 260° C. 11.The flexible material of claim 1, wherein the flexible material has athermal conductivity of about 0.1 W/m·K to about 1 W/m·K as measured at300 K, and the first, second, and third sealable layers each have amelting temperature of about 110° C. to about 200° C.
 12. The flexiblematerial of claim 1, wherein the flexible material has a creepresistance of 0.0% to 70% creep when measured over one month with anapplied stress of 5 MPa at 23° C.
 13. The flexible material of claim 1,wherein the flexible material has a creep resistance of 0.0% to 20%creep when measured over 1.5 years with an applied stress of 5 MPa at23° C.
 14. The flexible material of claim 1, wherein the flexiblematerial has a creep resistance of 0.0% to 8% creep when measured over 2years with an applied stress of 5 MPa maintained at 23° C.
 15. Theflexible material of claim 1, wherein the second laminate has aconstruction different than the first laminate.
 16. The flexiblematerial of claim 1, wherein the second laminate further comprises aprint layer, which is an exposed layer of the second laminate.
 17. Theflexible material of claim 1, wherein the first laminate furthercomprises a reinforcing layer.
 18. The flexible material of claim 1,wherein the second laminate further comprises a reinforcing layer. 19.The flexible material of claim 1, wherein the first laminate furthercomprises one or more tie layers.
 20. The flexible material of claim 1,wherein the second laminate further comprises one or more tie layers.